Summary

The incumbent provides nursing care to Residents in the Community Living Center (CLC) and Hospice. The CLC Nursing Assistant is accountable to the Nurse Manager or designee for completing Resident care assignments. Completes basic technical nursing procedures (in accordance with classroom instruction and correct clinical technical) for providing and monitoring direct Resident care typical of the assigned unit.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• Experience or Education or Training: Must have either six months of general experience and the experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of an 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. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Grade Determination: GS-3 Nursing Assistant Experience - Education and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 Nursing Assistant One year of specialized experience as an 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 - 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 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents
• (b) Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner
• (c) 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
• (d) Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents - their families and other health professionals
• GS-5 Nursing Assistant 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 - 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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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
• (b) Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents - families - interdisciplinary team and other personnel
• This includes serving as a preceptor to new NA's by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting (c) 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
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5.

Duties

• Assists the Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Practical Nurse in the provision of patient care by meeting the patient's nursing needs Completes basic technical nursing procedures (in accordance with classroom instruction and correct clinical techniques) for providing and monitoring direct patient care typical of the assigned unit Participates in therapeutic individual and group activities - observes for changes in mental and/or physical status - and demonstrates correct interventions to restore or maintain patient welfare and safety Provides nursing care to veterans requiring a 1:1 attendant Floats to other clinical patient care areas as needed to maintain safe patient staffing levels Provides a range of Veteran care and contributes to the completion of the nursing care plan Provides direct care for complex Veterans and assists with ADLs (bathing
• toileting
• ambulation
• feeding
• positioning
• oral hygiene care) Assists in transporting/escorting Veterans to appointments - tests etc
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition - i.e
• behavior shifts - mood - skin coloring - appetite - etc
• and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role Documents care given - observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personnel Measures and documents patient intake and output - takes vital signs - measures height and weight - reports deviations timely and accurately Recognizes the Veterans autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect - limit setting and individualized treatment Actively participates in Treatment Planning Meetings Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care - such as
• lift equipment - transfer equipment - AvaSure Telesitter monitoring - and Veteran Wandguard System Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart - utilizing appropriate formats 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 Responsible for maintaining PMDB training and utilizing PMDB principles and techniques when necessary
• Responds to Code Red when assigned and assist as directed Responsible for maintaining BLS and initiating and responding to emergency codes Appropriately initiates basic life support and first aid when necessary Maintains confidentiality of electronic - written - and verbal Veteran information Demonstrates working practices that include adherence to infection Control Standards and prevention practices Consistently communicates with customers (e.g. - veterans - family members - the public) in a courteous - tactful and helpful manner Provides the proper hand-off communication to the appropriate staff (CNAs - licensed staff - etc.) Answers and responds to call bells and phone calls to unit Adheres to the Medical Center policies on confidential matters and patient confidentiality Understands basic functions of VISTA/CPRS and Outlook Maintains security in the use of the computer and the medical record Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Varies - TBD by the service Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized EDRP: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required