Summary

Provides specialized personal nursing care to residents whose care may be impacted by psychiatric - medical and geriatric conditions. Performs multi-step treatments and procedures requiring skills and extensive knowledge specific to resident conditions - medical treatment - and an understanding of the effects of the treatment.

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:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• 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. 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
• 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 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: In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - and sitting
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing
• 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
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• In the performance of duties - the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The work consists of providing a range of resident care and contributes to the completion of the treatment plan and the recovery of residents
• This can include personal care - diagnostic support procedures - treatments - charting and resident teaching
• The scope of care encompasses 24 hours - seven days a week responsibility and contributes to the functioning of all other services. - The employee is required to recognize differences in a variety of situations and take appropriate action to meet the resident's needs
• Work involves assigned duties that require prioritization of tasks - selection of appropriate equipment - selection of the appropriate procedure for assigned treatments - and recognition of differences in resident's medical condition to facilitate appropriate and accurate documentation
• Practice settings may include Acute Care - Urgent Care - and Mental Health
• Major duties of the position include: Interacts with and provides resident specific care for residents of varying ages and lifestyles
• Adapts approaches in resident interaction based on resident specific needs
• Able to determine the differences of both physical and psychological effects of aging and distinguishes between normal aging process and pathological changes Monitors oxygen flow and changes oxygen tanks
• Identifies need for and administers oxygen per mask and cannula as directed by professional nurse
• Identifies need for and performs oral suctioning
• Aware of and monitors residents with risk factors for airway compromise or obstruction
• Recognizes emergency situations and institutes appropriate actions such as CPR - emergency measures for choking and trained in First Aid
• Performs work requiring specialized knowledge of personal care procedures
• Assists and encourages residents in activities of daily living (ADL) - such as bed baths - showers - shampoos - oral hygiene - shaving - care of skin - nails - grooming - dressing and undressing
• Offers and discusses options in the provision of nursing care with the resident whenever possible
• Encourages resident to assume responsibility for self-care
• Observes - reports and documents resident behavior associated with pain
• Provides emotional support and comfort measures
• Accompanies residents to meals
• Assist with or feeds residents as appropriate to individual and nutritional needs
• Provides supervision of residents in dining areas related to compliance with diet - resident behavior and potential emergencies Assists the resident with positioning - turning - ambulating - and transferring
• Relates and adapts techniques to resident's condition Work Schedule: 3:30pm - 12:00am rotating days - weekends - and holidays Recruitment Incentive (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 #: 02518F - 02537F - 02536F - Nursing Assistant - Clinical Pathway Acute Care/Mental Health Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized