Nursing Assistant

Summary

The Cheyenne VA Health Care System is recruiting one Nursing Assistant to help care for our Veterans as part of the Patient Care Service Line (PCSL) within the Community Living Center (CLC).

Qualifications

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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:

• To qualify for employment as a VHA Nursing Assistant (NA) - all applicants must meet the following basic requirements: Citizenship Must be a citizen of the United States
• Experience or 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 Nursing Assistant
• OR One year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation
• OR Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related training course or program of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. English Language Proficiency Nursing Assistants 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)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level) Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 Nursing Assistant Experience or Education: One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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 (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 residents' 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 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education: 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 (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 Nursing Assistants 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 the need for basic life support - controlling bleeding - and assisting with behavior crises - etc
• Preferred Experience: Long term care - hospice - and/or rehab experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• 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 visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• 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.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Nursing Assistant (NA) is an integral part of a team of nurses that provide care to long term care residents - end of life hospice veterans - and veterans with specific rehabilitation or skilled needs for a limited time frame
• Responsible for the direct patient care of disabled Veterans that reside at the Cheyenne VA Community Living Center
• Responsible for maintaining unit specific competencies to ensure safety and quality of care is provided to residents
• Promotes resident centered care and artifacts of cultural change to create a home-like environment
• Restorative nursing care is an essential part of the nurse aides role to promote the residents highest functioning level of abilities
• These are provider ordered and established programs such as walk to dine
• Involved with recreation therapy activities to promote socialization - and physical activities through planned outings and events
• Individuals assigned as a GS-3 Nursing Assistant are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised
• Individuals assigned as GS-4 Nursing Assistant are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised
• NAs at this level are functional as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded NAs - licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team to provide care to CLC residents
• Individuals assigned as GS-5 Nursing Assistant are considered to be full-performance for NAs
• NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute - sub-acute or chronic states of illness
• The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements
• NAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role
• Individuals assigned as a GS-5 Nursing Assistant are considered to be at the upper level of the NAs - work with little or no supervision - and assume more of a peer education/mentorship role
• NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist the licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home or community living care or other patients/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements
• Work Schedule: Intermittent - PRN - shift varies Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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 #: 56057-A - 56058-A - 56059-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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