North Central Section of the AUA, Inc.

The Northport VA is urgently hiring for many vacancies throughout their hospital; do you have a passion to service our Nation's Veteran's? We have a spot for you! 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/07/2022. Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens Education or Training: One year above high school with courses related to the [NA] occupation. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education Physical Requirements: All applicants must meet physical requirements for this position. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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. Creditable Experience: Knowledge of Current Practice: To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice. Quality of Experience: To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. Grade Determinations: GS-3 (Entry Level) Experience [and] Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 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: 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. GS-5 (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. 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 (IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education); 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G47 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS3 - GS5. Physical Requirements: The position requires walking, standing, bending, lifting, stooping, twisting, carrying, pulling, and pushing. It involves Veteran positioning and transferring to and from wheelchairs and stretchers. This work requires the use of good body mechanics and appropriate safe patient handling equipment. When directed, the nursing assistant may need to remain with the Veteran for an extended period of time. ["Duties include but are not limited to: -Performs preventative, rehabilitative, restorative nursing procedures: e.g., active and/or passive range of motion exercises (ROM) to assist and motivate the Veteran to achieve maxim nm independence in activities of daily living.- Assembles and prepares equipment for procedures and assists the nurse or physician with dressings, infusions, blood work, spinal tap, bone marrow aspiration, cut down, traction set-up, hypothermia therapy, etc. - Performs Veteran care treatments such as simple dressings not requiring medications (e.g. protective dressing on ankles, heels, elbows, etc.)\n- Performs oral/tracheostomy/endotracheal suctioning; determines from observation of Veteran when suctioning is necessary, performs the procedure according to standards and records the results; observes and reports to the nurse signs of dyspnea, cyanosis, anxiety, bleeding through or around tube, and condition of skin, neck, and mouth; performs percussions/postural drainage.\n- Applies external urinary drainage systems (male/female); maintains indwelling urinary catheters, maintains the gravity drainage system, and observes for patency, provides catheter care according to procedures/standards.\n- Performs colostomy irrigations and applies dressings.\n- Takes emergency measures calls for the nurse and/or physician and assists with resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or respiratory arrest.\n- Responds to call bells timely\n- Escorts Veterans to on-station and off-station activities/appointments as needed/assigned\n- Serves as a role model and leader for Veterans and peers by displaying a positive attitude and team spirit including assisting new NAs with their orientation and assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting.\n- Encourages and supports appropriate and independent behaviors of Veterans\n- Transports Veterans, equipment, supplies, medications, specimens to and from various areas within the medical center.\n- Stock and organize supply room and Veterans rooms - Pass water and nourishments to Veterans\n- Practices within the scope of a NA in the nursing unit, clinic, and area of assignment and demonstrates consistent practice when temporarily assigned to related nursing units and clinics.\n- Provides care and services to multiple populations served and admitted to the nursing unit, clinic, area of assignment as determined by the Veteran need for nursing care and services.\n- Provides care of Veterans and their environment contributing to optimizing Veteran outcomes as a member of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team.\n- Provides direct Veteran care in the provision of the psychological, physical, social and cultural activities of daily living, complete and supportive.\n- Provides for the care of Veterans with dignity and continuous consideration of the individuals emotional needs.\n- Provides reporting, communication and documentation in the computerized patient record system with other members of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team.\n- Demonstrates competency and consistency in the technical use of equipment, including VOCERA and Tele-sitter; application of technical standards and performance of administrative support duties.\n- Actively participates in Treatment Planning Meetings.\n- Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care, such as; lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and Veteran Wandering System.\n- Verbally provides patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the Veterans of care, participates in treatment team meetings for Veteran care planning.\n- Enters information about the Veterans' condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats.\n- Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the Veteran.- Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, observes safety regulations, contributes to infection control, and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties.\nWork Schedule: Days/Evenings\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]