Career Center

The Rehabilitation Nursing Service Nursing Assistant (NA) is a key member of the nursing and rehabilitation treatment team. The role of the NA is to provide basic patient care that supports patient's activities of daily living, hygiene, and nutrition as well as those tasks that support professional nursing. In addition, the NA will also assist, as assigned, in observation of stable post-operative patients and complex medical patients requiring additional observation. 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. Education or Training. One year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study 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). Preferred Experience: Grade Determinations: GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level). Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. 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 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). The candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. 2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. 3. 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. 4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-5 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level) 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 below; 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 KSAs: 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualifications Standard, GS-621 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05. Physical Requirements: Duties require extensive period of standing, sitting and walking. Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching and similar activities. The employee provides physical restraints for confused or combative patients as necessary. The nursing assistant must be physically able to lift to meet the physical standards of the position as evaluated by Employee Health. ["Rehabilitation Nursing Service serves the following areas; Polytrauma, Comprehensive Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder, and Western Blind Rehabilitation. Duties include, but are not limited to: - Obtaining and documenting vital signs, including temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure and pain level (and notifying the professional nurse when these values are outside of established parameters) - Bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing and undressing - Feeding and assisting with fluid and nutritional intake, including following dietary and fluid guidelines and aspiration precautions - Perform oral suctioning (with Yankauer only) - Mobility assistance including ambulation, transfers, positioning, range of motion, and positioning precautions. Lifts, moves and transports clients, using proper body mechanics or lifting devices. - Performs all job responsibilities in accordance with prescribed safety and infection control procedures including thorough hand washing, use of disposable gloves where indicated, and proper disposal of soiled materials - Observing urine color and smell and documenting input and output - Observes and documents bowel movements, assist with bowel care (positioning in bed, commode, toilet, check rectal vault, perform digital stimulation or manual evacuation, assist as needed with perineal hygiene) - Applying external catheters and maintaining and cleaning urinary drainage bags, perform bladder scans (and obtain/record post void residual-PVR) - Provides orientation as indicated - Displaying behavioral management skills, including positive reinforcement and adherence to behavior management program structure - Applying prescribed orthotics, prosthetics, and other mobility devices and observing for skin breakdown - Notifying professions of any changes in clinical or functional status as appropriate - Observing patient behaviors and reporting observations to the registered nurse - Assisting in socialization activities and reporting the level of patient participation to the registered nurse - Provides care that maintains skin integrity to prevent pressure ulcers, skin tears and other damage by changing incontinent clients, turning, repositioning immobile clients, and applying moisturizers to fragile skin, etc. Observes for skin integrity for irritation, bruising, and redness and reporting observations to registered nurse - Assists in maintaining a safe, neat and clean environment; reports environmental deficiencies to the registered nurse, such as lighting or equipment problems Work Schedule: 7:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m. or 11:30 p.m.-8:00 a.m & 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m (Including weekends and holidays) Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: PD000000 and PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

Return to Search Results