Nursing Assistant (Float Pool Part Time)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Nursing Assistant to provide care for veterans in a variety of settings. This role involves monitoring vital signs, assisting with daily activities, and working as part of a healthcare team to ensure the well-being of patients. Ideal candidates will have previous experience and an interest in enhancing their nursing skills through ongoing training and education. Schedule is typically 1830 - 0700, with flexibility depending on hospital needs.

Benefits

Recruitment/Relocation incentive

Qualifications

• Experience as a Nursing Assistant or in a related field.
• Education beyond high school in a related healthcare field preferred.
• Ability to provide basic nursing care in various settings.

Responsibilities

• Monitor patients’ vital signs and report changes.
• Assist with daily living activities for patients.
• Engage in therapeutic group activities for patient recovery.

Skills

Communication

Observation

Patient Care

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Completion of NA training course

Tools

Computerized Patient Record System

Glucose Monitoring Machine

Job description

The NA may perform these duties in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient, inpatient, home, or community living care, acute, sub-acute. The NA will care for patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions. The NA functions as a member of the nursing care team and assist other NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of those patients/residents on unit/care area.

**Recruitment/Relocation incentive may be offered**
Duties

Duties include but not limited to:

1. Accurately identifies and reports physical signs, symptoms, and changes noted in patients to RN/supervisor in charge. Also reports patients' complaints which are outside of the NA scope of practice to address.
2. Initiates emergency procedures for which the employee is trained and reports actual and potential safety hazards within the workplace.
3. Monitors Veterans who may be at risk for harming themselves and or others according to established policies and procedures and appropriately refers issues to the charge nurse or other health care professional.
4. Takes patient's vital signs, recognizes obvious discrepancies and report discrepancies to RN/supervisor in charge.
5. Applies knowledge and skill in facilitating the completion of activities of daily living for those patients to whom they are assigned.
6. Utilize glucose monitoring machine to collect and document appropriate glucose readings and refer deviations to appropriate nursing staff or other health care provider.
7. Utilizing rehabilitative principles to promote patient independence and recovery, encouraging and guiding patient/residents in bowel and bladder training.
8. Maintains positive therapeutic relationships by displaying respect for human dignity with patient, families and/or significant others, and staff utilizing learned communication skills.
9. Begins to utilize observation skills for data collection, reporting and recording patient/resident observations.
10. Learning to performs aspects of nursing care to meet patient's needs for the following:
a. Personal Hygiene
b. Physical Comfort
c. Activity, Exercise, Rest
d. Nutrition
e. Elimination
f. Prevention of Skin Breakdown
g. Rehabilitative Aspects of Care
h. Mental Well-Being (Whole Health)
11. Engaging in-group activities such as off-station trips, reality orientation, current events and other therapeutic groups with direction and close supervision.
12. Reports patient observations to the RN and or other members of the treatment team.
13. Set's up patient care related equipment.
14. Organizes and obtains routine supplies and equipment.
15. Assist with orienting patient/family to unit routines and policies.
16. Work as a cooperative, courteous member of the interdisciplinary team.
17. Safeguarding the patient's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature.
18. Monitors patients according to levels of observations (i.e. one to one suicide, continuous observation, q 15-minute checks, and hourly rounding).
19. Demonstrates proper safety practices. Follow all safety procedures and wears protective clothing/equipment as appropriate (Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)).
20. Utilize equipment and supplies according to procedures for use of patient care equipment to prevent injury to self or others in all settings such as utilization of lifting equipment.
21. Demonstrates principles of proper body mechanics while caring for patients and utilizes technical skills appropriately adjusting techniques for patients.
22. Facilitates in the transfer and transport of patients.
23. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.
24. Uses the Computerized Patient Record System; attends classes as needed to maintain currency in computerized record documentation.
25. Begin to orient lower-level nursing assistants.
26. Attends in-services on all new equipment and/or equipment that has changed or demonstrated a hazard.
27. Serves as a member of the health care team.
28. Adheres to established lines of authority and communication.
29. Cooperates with team members.
30. Attends and contributes to unit staff meetings.
31. Participates in interdisciplinary patient care conferences and provide information and feedback.
32. Contributes to a supportive when floating to other areas.
33. Accepts challenges and responds productively to change.
34. Demonstrates willingness to support others in their work.
35. Completes work assignments.
36. Recognizes performance improvement activities.
37. Follows patient safety measures and contributes to environmental cleanliness.
38. Uses creative approaches in completion of work assignments.
39. Maintains a consistent work schedule.
40. Enters leave requests into the VATAS program as per the Phoenix VA Leave Policy.
41. ON-GOING Education and Training Competency Validation:
a. Basic Life Support (BLS) is required for NA's in direct patient care positions per policy. Incumbent will complete orientation, annual competency requirements, and on-going mandatory education. The NA will complete all mandatory trainings within appropriate timelines.
b. The NA will actively participate in annual competency assessment and validation.

Work Schedule: 1830 - 0700, or depending on hospital needs.

Requirements

Qualifications
Preferred Experience:
Previous NA Experience

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.
• English Language Proficiency. Nursing Assistants appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
• 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 meeting full the experience requirements forGS-3.

Grandfathering Provisions. All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA as of May 22,2024, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations:

• GS-3 (entry level): (a)Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b)Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.

• GS-4 Experience/Education:
  • Experience: One 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 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 Experience Full Performance Level): This is the full performance level for Nursing Assistants. Nursing Assistants at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. Nursing Assistants at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role.
  • Experience: One 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 Nursing Assistants 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. .

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-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05.

Physical Requirements: This position may include a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nursing assistants such as walking, bending, stooping, and some lifting. There may also be extended periods of sitting or standing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols using mechanical lifts that are provided.