Nursing Assistant-Geriatric Extended Care

Veterans Health Administration; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration is seeking a Nursing Assistant for the Geriatric Extended Care (GEC) unit at Loch Raven to support veterans with physical and behavioral health needs. This is a detail position for 1 year up to 4 years, involving care across preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice settings.

Applicants may be tentatively selected pending completion of requirements. Roles include assisting licensed staff and contributing to care plans while maintaining

Qualifications

• Six months of general experience or education/training meeting VA requirements.
• Two years of college with health care related courses; or a program under 1 year for NA may meet experience.
• Proficient English in speaking and writing.

Responsibilities

• Provide NA care under RN/LPN supervision in various care settings.
• Assist in completing nurse care plans and support recovery.
• Observe and report patient status changes to supervising staff.
• Use routine medical equipment and supplies safely.

Skills

Patient care ability

Observation of patient status

Medical equipment use

Professional communication

Education

One year of education beyond high school

Bachelor's degree in health care (related)

Job description

The Geriatric Extended Care (GEC) Nursing Assistant provides care to Veterans with physical and/or behavioral health issues. NAs support licensed nursing staff in preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. ** This is a detail position for only 1 year up to 4 years as Nursing assistant (GEC) located at Loch Raven.

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.

Experience or Education or Training: Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA;OR, One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR 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.

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.

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:

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-3 NA (Entry Level) Experience and Education.

None beyond the basic requirements.

o Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.

GS-4 NA 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).

• i Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
• ii Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
• iii 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.
• iv Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.

GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level) 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(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

• i 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.
• ii 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.
• iii 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 va