Nursing Assistant

Nurse Assistant

The Nurse Assistant (NA) assigned to the VHAPORHCS Specialty Care Clinics, under the Division of Hospital and Specialty Medicine, provides outpatient clinical services for the subspecialties such as Medicine, Surgery, and Neurology. Responsibilities include but are not limited to : The NA functions as a team member as assigned by the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) under the guidance of a Registered Nurse or licensed independent practitioner. The NA works at the direction of a licensed nurse, with supervision or monitoring by a licensed nurse. The NA performs patient centered care to Veterans throughout the lifespan, and provides medical assistive care and administration support when needed. The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to observe, identify, and respond to the patient's need for nursing care, recognizing deviations from baseline and reporting to licensed personnel. Nursing procedures include but are not limited to specimen collection, maintaining the care environment, virtual care, dressing removal, home meter downloading, urological procedures, Echocardiogram (EKG), capillary blood glucose test, equipment assisted care, dermatological procedures, vital signs, orthostatic blood pressure measurement, timed walk test, documentation, assisting with invasive and non-invasive procedures, hand hygiene and hand hygiene observation, set up and closing of clinic and supply for operational and continued readiness, use of safe patient handling equipment and assistive devices, handling reusable medical equipment / devices, pre-treatment of reusable medical equipment / devices according to policy, proper disposal of hazardous waste, patient transport and repositioning, preventing falls, maintaining oxygen flow using available equipment at pre-established rate for stable patients, assisting patients with dressing or toileting, emptying catheter or ostomy bags. The incumbent will deploy proactive customer service and active listening and will also engage in rapport building, limit setting, and de-escalation as applicable. The Specialty Care NA must demonstrate flexibility and will be expected to work in multiple clinics and areas within duty station and with multiple services to meet patient volume and acuity demands throughout the shift.

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, as needed by the service, 08 : 00AM-04 : 30PM

Functional Statement # : 000000

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements : Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background / security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.

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.

Experience or Education : (1) Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR, (2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR, (3) 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

Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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 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.

Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-3 NA (Entry Level) : (a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 NA : (a) 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, (b) 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 (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs :

i Ability to provide a range of patient / resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients / residents.

ii Ability to observe patients / residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and / or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.

iii 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.

iv Ability to communicate effectively with patients / residents, their families and other health professionals.

GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level) : (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 :

i 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.

ii 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.

iii 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.

Preferred Experience : Multitasking

Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https : / / www.va.gov / ohrm / QualificationStandards / .