Nursing Assistant - SCI/D (Unit 1U2)
What you'd do
This Nursing Assistant - SCI/D (Unit 1U2) position is located at the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. Please learn more about the position below, along with the duties.
Major duties
This Nursing Assistant position is critical to meeting the staffing and patient care needs of the unit 1U2. Spinal Cord injury patients require total care, frequent turning, feeding, bathing, and transfer to their power chairs, mouth care, wound care. Nursing assistants offer companionship, listen to patients' concerns, and provide reassurance. They keep patient rooms and common areas clean, ensuring a safe and clean environment. Under the supervision of nurses, they assist with simple tasks like wound care, catheter care, and specimen collection, bowel and bladder care. They adhere to infection control practices to prevent the spread of infection. The incumbent practices excellent customer service in all work activities. The incumbent is under the supervision of a Nurse Manager or other supervisor who provides the administrative supervision and general instruction, plans, and assigns work, assigns time schedules, approves leave, and completes performance evaluations. Clinical supervision is provided by a registered nurse, physician, or other provider. Duties include, but are not limited to: -Provides reporting, communication, and documentation in the computerized patient record system with other members of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team. -Ability to provide a range of patient care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients. -Demonstrates competency and consistency in the technical use of equipment, application of technical standards and performance of administrative support duties. -Ability to observe patients physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. -Maintains certification and Basic Life Support (BLS). Remains current in required education and training as identified by regulating agencies, Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and National Agencies. -Participates in Medical Center activities and demonstrates skills and behaviors that provide and promote positive internal and external customer relationships. -Recognizes, responds, and initiates appropriate level response to medical emergencies such as cardiac and/or respiratory failure. -Demonstrates the knowledge and skills to provide care and services consistent with Infection Control Standards of Practice providing optimal outcomes for patients, visitors, and employees. -Ability to properly use equipment, materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures such as bladder scan, continuous passive motion device, specimen collection, etc. -Ability to communicate effectively with patients, their families and other health professionals. Work Schedule: Various tours, to be discussed with manager if applicant is interviewed for this position. Recruitment Incentive/Expenses: 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 VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #2098FA Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
What you need to qualify
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: 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 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 of study or program of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-03. 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. Grandfathering Provisions: All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard, May 22, 2024, 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 reentry to the occupation. 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-03 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level): Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 Nursing Assistant: Experience: 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, 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' or resident's 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-05 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level):Experience: One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-04 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. OR, 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSA below: 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. Note: Basic Life Support (BLS) required for NA's in direct patient care positions. Preferred Experience: At least 1-year of experience as a nursing assistant. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
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