The GS-5 Nursing Assistant (NA) is assigned to Escort Service and is responsible for providing in-transit nursing care to a variety of medical, surgical, psychiatric, and long-term care patients within and/or outside the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. These patients may range from the ambulatory patient to the acute and/or terminally ill. 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. 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. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight pulling (up to 8 hours); Pushing (up to 8 hours); Reaching above shoulders; Use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 8 hours); standing (up to 8 hours); kneeling (2 to 3 hours); repeated bending (up to 8 hours); both legs required; hearing (aid permitted).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.Grandfathering Provisions. All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard (3/26/2014) 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. Preferred Experience: 1 year inpatient hospital Nursing Assistant experience/BLS Specialized Experience is experience which is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled such as non professional nursing care, work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other medical, nursing, or patient care facility, or in such work as that of a home health aid. While working in the above areas the duties must have included technical and medical support functions such as personal care needs, i.e bathing, feeding lifting, taking vital signs collecting specimens or other functions which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties as described in this announcement. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Grade Determinations: GS-3 No specialized experience beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant or experience in another medical field, 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. In addition to the above, applicant must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:1 Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patient/residents.2 Ability to observe patients/residents 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 patient / residents, their families and other health professionals. Experience and Education Requirements: To qualify at the GS-5 level (Full-performance):(a) 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(b) 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(c) Demonstrated 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, Pat II, Appendix G46 Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard GS-621 Veterans Health Administration Note: 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-5. Promotion is not guaranteed nor implied. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5005, Part III, Chapter 2, paragraph 7, and VA Handbook 5019, Occupational Health Services. All applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position. Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; straight pulling; pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; kneeling; repeated bending; climbing, use of legs and arms; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted). ["Duties include, but not limited to: The incumbent may be required to perform nursing care for patients scheduled for treatments and diagnostic tests in accordance with classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience. Nursing care includes lifting, turning, basic hygiene, monitoring patients receiving IV fluids, oxygen therapy, feeding tubes, maintaining catheter and colostomy care while in transit, toileting, suctioning of mouth and throat, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and and making sure patients are appropriately dressed and privacy is respected in transportation. Escorts and assumes full responsibility for ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher patients within the medical center and on occasion to appointments outside the medical center. Uses correct body mechanics for lifting and moving of patients or equipment, as required. Safe transferring and transporting of patients, adhering to proper techniques of transporting and safety factors. Applies and observes patients who require use of safety/protective devices. Treats each person as an individual. Attempts to understand and respond to unusual behavior without becoming upset. Observes and promptly reports physical and emotional status changes and intervenes in accordance with nursing policy and procedure. Recognizes unusual condition and initiates first aid measures for life threatening conditions such as cardiac/respiratory arrest or choking. Follow appropriate procedures or obtaining emergency care, (i.e., Code Blue). Follows registered nurse's (RN's) verbal or written instructions regarding transporting, (i.e., information regarding patient's physical and emotional status and limitations, transports patients to pre-scheduled appointments on time, and escorts patients back to unit following appointment). Maintains a safe and clean environment, including work area. Follows infection control principles, policies, and procedures and eliminates observed safety hazards; (i.e., spills, cluttered hallways, report and/or corrects faulty equipment or any other situation that could be a hazard to self and/or others. Uses basic communication skills effectively with patients, visitors, and co-workers. Reinforces patient's role in various procedures, covering information previously supplied by the doctor or the nurse. Transports patients' records and specimens according to policy and procedure. Reports on and off duty as scheduled. Completes assignments in an organized and timely manner. Operates equipment such as mechanical lifts, ambulance stretcher as necessary. Responsible for attending monthly mandatory in-service as scheduled. Work Schedule: Rotational Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Preferred Experience: 5 years Nursing Assistant experience/BLS Certification/Escort Experience"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
