Nursing Assistant (Inpatient and Emergency Services)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration, Kansas City VA Medical Center, seeks a Nursing Assistant to support licensed nursing staff across outpatient, inpatient, and emergency care. The NA provides direct patient care, assists with procedures, and helps maintain patient safety and comfort under RN/LPN supervision.

Responsibilities include documenting patient responses, performing basic assessments, and contributing to care plans.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Six months general experience or one year of relevant education
• Completion of NA training or two years of education related to nursing

Responsibilities

• Assist licensed nursing staff in care of patients across outpatient, inpatient, or emergency settings.
• Perform delegated procedures and treatments within NA scope (venipuncture, EKG, bladder scan, I&O, wound care).
• Prepare rooms, document patient care, and monitor patient changes with RN/MD guidance.
• Participate in unit huddles and coordinate work to improve care delivery.
• Respond to urgent care situations and communicate with patients and families.

Skills

Communication

EKG

Phlebotomy

Documentation

Precepting

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Nursing Assistant training program

Job description

Summary

This position is located at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. The Nursing Assistant at this grade level functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists licensed nursing staff in the care of patients receiving outpatient - inpatient - or emergency care who are in acute - sub-acute - chronic - or end of life states of illness.

Qualifications

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: Six (6) months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nursing Assistant
• OR One (1) year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation
• OR Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one (1) year as a Nursing Assistant
• Grade Determinations: Nursing Assistant GS-03: (Entry Level) Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Individuals assigned as GS-03 are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised
• GS-04: Experience
• One (1) year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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
• One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-04 level which demonstrates knowledge - skills - and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment
• OR Education
• Successful completion of a four (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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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
• 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)
• 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
• Preferred Experience: 2 years hospital Inpatient and/or Emergency Department experience
• Skilled in conducting EKGs and Performing phlebotomy
• Competent in documenting patient care
• Experience in precepting and training staff
• Experience in a Hospital Float Pool is highly desirable
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-05
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• VA offers a Comprehensive Total Rewards package: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Serves as a preceptor and mentor to other NA's and orients members of the health care team to the units as appropriate
• Makes observations and accurately documents care and patient response to treatment - and appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or medical provider of changes in patient condition
• The NA performs delegated procedures and treatments - including but not limited to venipuncture - EKG - bladder scan - accurate I&O documentation - wound care - ortho splinting - doppler - visual acuity - vital signs - blood glucose monitoring - lab specimen collection - personal/oral hygiene - 1:1 observation - and other procedures requested within the NA scope of practice
• Prepares rooms for use and rooms patients in a timely and efficient manner to enhance patient access through efficient hospital through-put
• Maintains mandated facility and unit specific certifications and education
• Adheres to KCVA Medical Center policies and procedures
• Promptly recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations and seeks assistance and effectively intervenes - i.e. - performs CPR - assists in managing aggressive behavior - follows emergency management procedures
• Follows established hospital safety policies and procedures to maintain a safe and hazard free work environment - including the use of safe patient handling equipment - adherence to safety and infection prevention guidelines - and appropriate verbal/behavioral responses to potential risk/danger to patients - visitors - employees - or property
• Serves as a resource and advocate to patients and their families by recognizing patient autonomy and incorporating patient preferences into care and providing patient education within the NA scope
• Actively participates in unit huddles and/or meetings to coordinate work and improve care delivery
• Manages assigned workload by prioritizing and organizing tasks according to unit and patient needs to complete assignments in an efficient and appropriate manner
• Demonstrates positive - effective communication skills and professional behaviors that promote cooperation and teamwork with internal and external customers
• Possesses ability to proactively assist the RN or provider in addressing complex patient needs
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• Contributes to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in Shared Governance - process improvement activities - and as a skills/education champion
• Work Schedule: Full- time Compressed Schedule: Varies Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.