Summary

This Nursing Assistant position is located within the Fargo VA Medical Center - Rehabilitation and Extended Care Integrated Clinical Community in Fargo ND. You will be assigned to our Community Living Center where you will care for Veterans in acute - sub-acute - or chronic states of illness; performing aspects of nursing care which require knowledge of physical and behavioral concepts essential for individualized care and the ability to understand complex resident treatment regimens.

Qualifications

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
• To be at least minimally qualified for the nursing assistant occupation in VA - applicants must have completed at least one of the following: General Experience: Six months general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nursing Assistant
• Education: One year of education above high school with courses related to the nursing assistant occupation
• Training: Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant (e.g. - Nurse Aid Certification course) may also meet the experience requirements for GS-3. Applicants pending the completion of educational or training requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met
• Note: If basing all or part of your qualifications on education or training - copy of college transcripts showing completion of one year of education above high school related to the nursing assistant occupation - or documentation showing completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant (e.g. - Nurse Aid Certificate) is required to verify you meet the basic education/training requirement
• While not required at the time of application - documentation may be required to receive further consideration
• Grandfathering Provisions: All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard (March 12 - 2015) 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
• GRADE DETERMINATION: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-3 through GS-5. In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the qualification criteria outlined below must be met for each grade
• To receive full consideration at the GS-4 and -5 levels - your application must clearly demonstrate the Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs) described below
• GS-3 - Entry Level Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 - Developmental Level 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 (transcripts required)
• 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 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 - 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 listed 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 (transcripts required)
• AND Demonstrated KSAs: 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
• Preferred Experience: Long Term Care Experience (but not required) References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Fargo VA Healthcare System is part of the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23)
• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being
• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Major duties include - but not limited to: Assist with care of acutely ill and more complex residents
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition and reports to registered nurse
• Observes residents for appropriate oxygen administration and performs pulse oximeter readings
• Assists the nurse or provider with wound care
• Reinforces resident teaching
• Participates actively in mandatory reviews - unit meetings and in-services
• Manages indwelling urinary catheter bags
• emptying recording and reporting urine output to the nurse
• Performs and records blood glucose monitoring and reports finding to nurse
• Provides 1:1 sitter coverage
• Obtains and records temperature - pulse - blood pressure - respirations - pulse oximetry - height - and weight
• Removal of heparin lock and urinary catheter based on competency
• Ensures correct placement of oxygen via nasal cannula/mask
• Performs EKGs
• Exchange oxygen tanks
• Transports residents to tests and procedures as directed
• Assists in monitoring and documentation of restraints as directed
• Maintains and stocks supplies on the unit as directed
• Demonstrates skill/knowledge/ability to perform treatments - procedures and the use and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment appropriate to assigned duties
• Work schedule: Full time: Sunday-Saturday - rotating days and evenings (6:00am-2:30pm or 3:30pm-Midnight)
• Alternating weekends and holidays required
• There may be the option to work 10 or 12 hour tours
• Intermittent: Intermittent hours are rotating shifts to include holidays and weekends
• Intermittent employment is defined as non-fulltime employment in which employees serve under an excepted or competitive service appointment without a regularly scheduled tour of duty
• A position with an intermittent work schedule is sporadic and unpredictable so that a tour of duty cannot be regularly scheduled in advance
• Additional Pay: Shift Differential - 10% of basic pay for work performed during regularly scheduled hours between 6pm and 6am
• Weekend Premium - 25% of basic pay for work performed between the hours of midnight Friday and midnight Sunday
• This includes continuous service connected to work performed during these hours
• Holiday Pay - 2 times basic hourly rate for regularly scheduled - non-overtime work on a designated holiday
• Relocation/recruitment incentive: May be authorized for eligible - highly qualified applicants
• A service agreement is required for all recruitment/relocation incentives
• 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 existing pay - 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
• Employees hired on an intermittent basis may not be entitled to annual and sick leave
• 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 Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized