Nursing Assistant (Geriatrics and Extended Care)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Wilkes-Barre (Luzerne County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nursing Assistant position with the US Department of Veterans Affairs involves providing complex nursing care as a member of the nursing care team across diverse settings, including outpatient, inpatient, home, and community living care. You will assist other nursing staff and participate in implementing care plans for patients with acute to chronic conditions.

Applicants may be referred provisionally while meeting educational or licensure requirements, and grandfathering provisions may

Qualifications

• Six months of general experience or one year of education above high school with courses related to nursing care; OR completion of an intensive, occupation-related training course of less than one year as a NA.
• May qualify under Grandfathering Provision for VA employees meeting criteria.
• English language proficiency required for NA position.

Responsibilities

• Provide complex nursing care as part of the nursing care team in various settings (outpatient, inpatient, home or community living care).
• Assist other NAs, licensed nursing staff, and care team to deliver patient care.
• Assist with entering and monitoring basic clinical procedures and patient status as part of care plan implementation.

Skills

Therapeutic communication

Patient observation

Equipment usage

Nursing care knowledge

Education

Two years of college with health-related courses

Bachelor’s degree with health-related courses

Job description

The Nursing assistant works in Geriatrics and Extended care and provides complex nursing care as a member of the nursing care team by assisting other Nursing Assistants, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team. The incumbent may perform these duties in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient, inpatient, home or community living care, acute or sub-acute and will provide care for patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions.

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.

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 NA (Entry Level)

Experience and Education None beyond the basic requirements.

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, health care 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:

• 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

Demonstrated 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-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: You may be asked You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation.