Nursing Assistant Surgical Telemetry

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

VA San Diego Healthcare System is seeking Nursing Assistants at GS-3 to GS-5 levels. Positions involve assisting in patient care, performing routine clinical tasks, and supporting licensed nursing staff in a busy hospital setting.

Candidates must meet basic education/experience requirements per VA standards and demonstrate KSAs such as patient care, observation, and effective communication. Grandfathering provisions apply to current VHA employees.

Qualifications

• Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the nurse care plan.
• Ability to observe patients' physical or emotional status and refer deviations to supervisor.
• Ability to use basic diagnostic/treatment equipment (e.g., bladder scan, BP glucose meter).
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and health professionals.

Responsibilities

• Assist nursing staff in delivering outpatient and inpatient care.
• Assist with patient assessments and care planning under supervision.
• Perform routine clinical tasks and monitor patient status as directed.

Education

Six months of general experience

One year of education above high school with relevant courses

Intensive occupation-related training course (less than one year)

Four-year bachelor’s degree with health care courses

Job description

The VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) is a Level 1a major interdisciplinary teaching healthcare system, offering a variety of Inpatient and Outpatient services to Veterans at the medical center in La Jolla and at the six Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located in Chula Vista, Escondido, Imperial Valley, Kearny Mesa, Oceanside, Sorrento Valley, and Rio Clinic. The VASDHS provides high quality care with advanced technologies and a compassionate service to Veterans.

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:
• 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.
  • 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.

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 (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:
    1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
    2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
    3. 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.
    4. 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:
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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. .

Preferred Experience

• Ability to properly use equipment, materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures such as bladder scan, blood glucose monitoring machine, specimen collection;
• Knowledge of the human physical and emotional states, therapeutic communication, and technical skills required for basic and intermediate treatments;
• Active BLS

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:

The NA must be able to lift (30 lbs or more); twisting and /or bending, standing and/or walking almost constantly during the course of the day to provide patient care.