Nursing Assistant-Float Pool

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Float Pool Nursing Assistant to provide personal nursing care across inpatient medical units, including Acute Medicine, 3 West, Telemetry, ICU, ED, and psychiatric and substance abuse units.

Applicants may be referred while meeting requirements; hiring is contingent on credential completion. The role emphasizes care planning, patient observation, and effective communication with the care team, under RN/LPN supervision.

Qualifications

• United States citizenship is required or VA policy allows non-citizens only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• English language proficiency in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005.
• Experience or education or training options: six months general experience; or one year of education above high school with related courses; or completion of an intensive, occupation-related training program; or grandfathering provisions for current VA employees.
• GS-4 requires one year specialized experience or two years of higher education with nursing-related courses and KSAs including care planning, observation, equipment use, and communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal nursing care on inpatient medical units per the treatment plan.
• Observe and report patients’ physical or emotional status to supervisor.
• Assist with basic and intermediate treatments and use of standard nursing equipment.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families and health professionals.

Skills

Nursing care

Therapeutic communication

Patient observation

Vital signs monitoring

Education

Two years of college with nursing-related courses

Bachelor’s degree with health care coursework

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

The Float Pool Nursing Assistant provides personal nursing care to patients on inpatient medical units including Acute Medicine, 3 West, Telemetry, ICU, the Emergency Department, and to substance abuse and psychiatric patients. The objectives for care are set in the treatment plan as established by the multidisciplinary treatment team.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
• Experience or Education or Training. (1)Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA.
• OR,
• (2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation;
• OR,
• (3) Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related [training] course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.
• OR,
• (4) May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)

Grade Determinations

GS-3 Nursing Assistant

Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 Nursing Assistant

Experience. One (1) year of specialized experience as a NA or experience in another medical field (licensed practical nurse, health technician, hospital corpsman, etc.), performing technical and nursing skills requiring knowledge of the human physical and emotional states, therapeutic communication, and technical skills required for basic and intermediate treatments;

OR,

Education. Successful completion of two (2) years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care, healthcare or in a field of study appropriate to the specialization of the position, such as education in a program for psychology, psychiatric, or operating room technicians;

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
• Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
• Ability to properly use equipment, materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures such as bladder scan, continuous passive motion device, blood glucose monitoring machine, specimen collection, etc.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.

GS-5 Nursing AssistantExperience

One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) below;

OR,

Education. Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree that included 24 semester hours of courses related to health care or possession of a bachelor's degree;

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in a hospital, long-term care or outpatient setting under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse.
• Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team and other personnel. This includes serving as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting.
• Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance. For example, recognizing need for basic life support, controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis, etc.

Preferred Experience

1 year experience as a Nurse Assistant or related field.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5 .

Physical Requirements

This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The NA may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The NA may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The NA must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The NA must complete annual employee health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. These physical requirements will be consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019