Summary

The James A Haley Spinal Cord Injury is looking for experienced nursing assistants to join our team to assist in caring for our veterans. Our units have diverse work environment - housing multigenerational veterans with varying comorbidities including Spinal cord injuries - ALS - MS - Dementia - PTSD - palliative - hospice etc. who require daily assistance with some or all activities of daily living (ADLS). We have multiple vacancies throughout our acute care and long term care units.

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 theability 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 NAoccupation
• OR - Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related [training]course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA may also meetin 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)
• All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• 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
• Assignments
• Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered tobe 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)
• 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: 1 year Nursing Assistant experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 5
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 3 to 5
• Physical Requirements: The nursing assistant within all services may require shift work and or rotation of tour assignments
• Routinely requires regular and recurring bending - stooping - walking - stretching - lifting - standing - and repositioning and transportation of patients or similar activities
• Work requires the ability to physically intervene with disruptive patients and protect self and others from injury using the knowledge gained from ongoing training
• This position will require the ability to work outside daily for duration of shift
• Will need to follow facility guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination and influenza vaccination of employees.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Tampa VA Medical Center is currently seeking clinically experienced - innovative and energetic Nursing Assistants to serve in various positions located within our facility
• The incumbent serves as a member of the nursing team on a compressed day and night tour
• Incumbent gives direct patient care to patients who may require medical and nursing care under the indirect supervision of the registered nurse.The Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing team in providing quality patient care on any medical/surgical unit
• Knowledge of the patients' plan of care and follows them Understanding call light system - using Vocera - phones and call lights Receives and utilizes the Nursing Assistant Patient Care Assignment Uses written documentation worksheets to record observations and finding - chart appropriate values into Electronic Health Record - as well as to report to the RN Starts assignments promptly and works steadily in an organized manner Performs or assists in patient to complete these activities of daily living: Bathing - shaving - daily oral hygiene - and denture care - feeding - skin care - including care of hands and feet - toileting - assisting with dressing - positioning and transferring
• Makes rounds at the beginning and end of shift
• Completes bedside report at the beginning and end of every shift Obtain vital signs: Temperature - Pulse - Respiration - Blood Pressure and Pain level
• Obtain weights by using appropriate equipment Check patients at a minimum every two hours or more frequently as appropriate Verbally reports observations and findings to the registered nurse Identifying environmental safety hazards and notifies the charge nurse immediately Functioning as a member of the nursing care team an assist licensed nursing staff and others in the care of residents Performing a complete range of procedures such as routine urinary catheter care Collecting and labeling specimens (urine - stool - sputum) following protocol and labeling accurately Assisting resident with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as personal hygiene and daily nourishment with direction Supporting resident in self-care activities Supporting family and visitors to assure comfort - peace and dignity during the dying process Treating residents - family - self and others with respect and dignity Adhering to infection control guidelines in efforts to reduce and prevent infectious disease from spreading Observing residents physical and emotional status and referring deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner Attending unit specific meetings and in-services
• Work Schedule: Multiple Positions Day shift 0730-2000 with every other weekend or Night shift 1930-0800 every other weekend Compressed/Flexible: Available 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) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authoried