Nursing Assistant (Step Down Unit)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Boise (ID); On-site; USD 32,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Nursing Assistant at the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The incumbent provides direct nursing support under RN guidance in acute care settings.

The role requires completion of relevant nursing care education or training, proficiency in English, and ability to work variable shifts. Training in clinical procedures is provided as needed.

Qualifications

• Six months of general experience or education or training may qualify for entry.
• Must be able to speak and write English proficiently.
• GS-3/GS-4/GS-5 progression requires KSAs and nursing competencies.
• Proficiency in basic nursing care tasks and patient interaction.

Responsibilities

• Assist in full range of nursing care for patients/residents under RN supervision.
• Contribute to the development and evaluation of patient treatment plans.
• Perform routine procedures like ECGs, glucose monitoring, venipuncture, catheterization as trained.
• Communicate with patients, families, and the health team and document care provided.

Skills

Therapeutic communication

Patient care

Team collaboration

Education

Two years of college with nursing care courses

One year education above high school in NA

4-year degree with health care courses

Intensive occupation-related training <1 year

Job description

Summary This Nursing Assistant position is located within Acute Care at the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Qualifications 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 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• 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: 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: 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 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 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
• 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
• 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 incumbent 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 incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent 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.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties of this position include - but are not limited to: Assists in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems while meeting their diverse needs based on age - culture - ethnic - spiritual - and war conflict group - in a hospital - long term care or outpatient setting under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or /Licensed Practical Nurse
• Contributes to the interdisciplinary team in the development - implementation - and evaluation of the individual Veteran's treatment plan
• Implements team decisions - reports outcomes - and participates in evaluation of outcomes
• Promotes and participates in unit performance improvement initiatives - identifies problems - collects data - and supports change
• Conducts self-assessment for continuous learning and growth seeking out educational opportunities and shares expertise with colleagues
• Knowledgeable of the disease processes and the approaches in caring for the cognitively impaired Veteran that are effective such as: empathy - calm approach - re-approach - redirection - and therapeutic activities
• Performs procedures to maintain proper nutrition - airway - circulation - elimination - muscle strength - neurological functions - and promotes ADL/hygiene protocols and documents care provided in the ADL note
• Consistently performs a range of technical procedures including 12 Lead ECGs - blood glucose monitoring - phlebotomy - and straight catheterization per demonstrated competency/certification
• Performs a range of therapeutic procedures including wound and skin care - sterile dressings - and wound irrigations - according to procedure
• Incorporates Safe Patient Handling techniques into daily practice
• This includes but is not limited to SPH Algorithms and the utilization of SPH equipment per policy and weight restrictions
• Work Schedule: 6:00am to 6:30pm
• Days will vary Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized