Nursing Assistant-Long Term Care

Nursing Assistant

This position is located in the Eastern Colorado Health Care System under Patient Care Services, GEC, Pueblo Community Living Center (PCLC). The purpose of this position is to provide a range of direct resident care in collaboration with the PCLC nursing staff. The incumbent serves as a member of the nursing team. All work is reviewed by a Registered Nurse (RN).

Responsibilities include :

• Utilizing glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans and referring deviations to appropriate health care staff.
• Providing direct care for complex veterans.
• Making observations of subtle changes in resident's condition and taking action accordingly within the NA's assigned role.
• Documenting care given, observations, and responses on appropriate tools or forms.
• Administering complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitoring and documenting patient intake and output, reporting deviations timely and accurately.
• Performing nursing procedures within the scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures.
• Working on small group activities with veterans / residents according to the patients / resident treatment plan.
• Recognizing the residents' autonomy and promoting independence by means of respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Actively participating in Treatment Planning Meetings.
• Utilizing equipment to promote the veteran self-care, such as lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and Veteran / Resident Wandering System.
• Verbally providing patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran / residents' plan of care, participating in treatment team meetings for resident care planning.
• Entering information about the residents' condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats.
• Participating in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient / resident.
• Removing defective equipment, reporting hazards, observing safety regulations, contributing to infection control, and utilizing proper aseptic technique in performance of duties.
• Serving as the unit safe patient handling liaison.
• Serving as preceptor and mentor to other NAs.
• Orienting members of the health care team to the units as appropriate.
• Functioning as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Managing distributed patient behavior and appropriately intervening and requesting assistance from other health care members.
• Appropriately initiating basic life support and taking actions appropriate action.
• Performing & fulfilling a variety of nursing care tasks in support of safe and effective patient care with the appropriate level of training.
• All tasks, assignments, and activities will be under the direction, guidance, and supervision of a RN.
• Assisting with the rehabilitation of patients and in the prevention of deformities by correct position and assisting with activities of daily living to include ambulation.
• Performing range of motion activities.
• Following ECHCS and nursing service policies and procedures for accurately documenting personal belongings and securing patients' belongings to include valuables and prosthetic devices such as dentures, hearing aids, eyes, and limbs.
• Performing bladder scans, EKGs, and collecting urine, sputum, MRSA Nares, or stool specimens per the RN's direction.
• Initiating cardio-pulmonary resuscitation or activating the Medical Emergency Response Team in accordance with established medical center policy for patients found unresponsive and / or not breathing.

Work Schedule : Compressed 12 hr shifts available (six 12 hr shifts and one 8 hr shift in two week pay period)

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).

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 VA.

Insurance : Federal health / vision / dental / term life / long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Telework : Not Available.

Functional Statement # : 55671-A, 55672-A & 55673-A

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized.

Requirements :

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.

Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications : Basic Requirements :

U.S. Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English.

[Experience or] Education or Training :

(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.

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 :

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

GS-4 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 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 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' 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 Experience : One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to