Nursing Assistant (Surgical & Palliative Ave)

Summary

Nashville Veterans' Administration Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee is currently recruiting for a Nursing Assistant (Surgical & Palliative Care 2G) The Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute chronic, maintenance, and hospice care.

Duties

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-5. At the GS-3 and GS-4 grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-5. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance. Performs activities of daily living and provides a range of care that contributes to the Veteran's treatment plan, recovery, and wellness under the direction of a licensed health care provider. The NA will care for patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions. The NA must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: -Ability to assist in the full range of nursing assistant 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 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. Experienced at performing aspects of nursing care to meet patient'/resident needs for: - Personal Hygiene - Physical Comfort - Activity, Exercise, Rest- Nutrition - Elimination- Prevention of Skin Breakdown - Rehabilitative Aspects of Care The NA provides direct care for complex Veterans. Makes observations of changes in resident's condition, i.e. behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, vital signs etc. and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role and alerts the appropriate members of the health care team. Sets up patient care related equipment, such as oxygen delivery systems, portable and wall suction and assisting in monitoring proper functioning of equipment. Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to collect glucose values when needed and refer deviations to appropriate nursing staff or other health care provider promptly. Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient/resident and staff. Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, observes safety regulations, contributes to infection control, and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties. Reinforces patient education including orienting patient/family to unit routines and policies. Working as a cooperative, courteous member of the interdisciplinary team. Safeguarding the patient's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature. Manages disruptive patient behavior and intervenes within scope of practice and requests assistant from other health care members. Appropriately initiates basic life support, takes appropriate action. Preferred experience: Medical Surgical or Hospice/Palliative Care experience preferred; Certified Nursing Assistant certification preferred. Pay Schedule: V785 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full-time; Based on the needs of the service 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 VAInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)Telework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 71427-F, 71428-F, 71429-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

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. 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. 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 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 meeting full the experience requirements for GS-3. Grandfathering Provisions: All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard 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: 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. 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 re-entry to the occupation. 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. Assignment: Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. GS-4 Nursing Assistant 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 rela