Details
Posted: 28-Jul-22
Location: Biloxi, Mississippi
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 667759600
If you are a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply CBST-11574746-22-TB. The Nursing Assistant provides certain patient care duties assigned to a patient ward. The NA performs the following relatively simple and repetitive tasks, which require elementary knowledge of patient or nursing care procedures but is also trained to recognize emergent situations and take necessary action. 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 NA 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. NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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 in subparagraph (c) 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 In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 Nursing Assistants 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. Preferred Experience: 1. Current BLS & professional certification as a Nursing Assistant (CNA) maintained 2. At least 2 years experiences as a CNA 3. Communication skills which indicate the ability to be successful at communicating with patients and significant others, educating, teaching, precepting, counseling, mentoring and collaborating and coordinating care within multidisciplinary teams 4. Ability to work in an interdisciplinary setting of health care professional supporting training of medical, nursing and ancillary personnel References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46, March 12, 2015 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. Physical Requirements: 1. Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, pulling, lifting arm overhead and similar activities. May require extensive periods of sitting (one-to-one, etc.) 2. Work requires regular rotation to other than day tours, includes weekends, and holidays. 3. Meets physical requirements for dexterity in obtaining lab specimens and performing phlebotomy. 4. Ability to provide CPR effectively. 5. Ability to lift 35 lbs. at any given time. 6. Requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. 7. Must be able to effectively manage patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia or psychiatric disorders. 8. Must be able to be mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situation, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. ["Duties include, but are not limited to the following: 1) Gives and assists with all types of cleansing baths and shampoos. Gives skin care to prevent complications\nand promote healing. Gives and assists with oral care and hygiene including denture care.\n2) Makes all types of beds.\n3) Assists with the use of bedpans and urinals. Applies external catheters and maintains patency or drainage.\nAssists with bowel and bladder training. Assists in providing ostomy care for established and uncomplicated\nostomies.\n4) Assists patients in feeding themselves, or feeds those who cannot. Measures and records all intake and\noutput (Excluding IV).\n5) Maintains correct body positions. Turns patients as required using all types of supporting and comfort\ndevices. Assists or provides patient transfers, activities, e.g. ambulation, litter, and or wheelchair to bed.\nEscorts patients to tests as needed.\n6) Assists with assembling equipment for sterile procedures, administration of oxygen and vacuum/suction setup.\n7) Meets the need for safe therapeutic environment by employing principals of medical asepsis, maintaining\nward cleanliness by daily cleaning of patient unit and areas. Properly handles soiled and clean linen\naccording to policy. Applies all types of physical restraints and protective devices as ordered. Employs\ntechniques for emergency evacuation in the case of fire and/or disaster. Knows the purpose of all wards\nequipment and seeks assistance as needed.\n8) Demonstrates recognition of cognitive, physical, emotional, and chronological maturation of adult and\ngeriatric patient's needs and possess an understanding of how to compensate for these changes.\nThe geriatric patient is defined as older than 60 years. The NA must also be aware that chronic\nmedical conditions may alter the manifestation of aging.\n9) Assists ward staff with direct patient care activities as assigned.\n10) Performs basic patient care activities and duties as assigned, such as taking vitals and recording\nmeasurements. Receives centralized monitoring training and is documented as competent to perform basic,\nnon-interpretive tasks associated with the telemetry system, such as assisting with placing patient on\ntelemetry equipment for monitoring, operating and setting up monitoring capabilities at bedside monitors {if\napplicable), entering the patient into the telemetry main system, and watching the monitors and alerting RN\nto alarms, replacing batteries and leads as needed, and suspending and un-suspending monitoring when\npatients leave and return from testing.\n11) Adheres to principles of patient safety, falls safety and infection control and universal precautions at all\ntimes. Uses appropriate PPE per policy.\n12) Participates in health team conferences by reporting observations of patient's physical, mental, and\nemotional status. Reports and records observations as required.: vital signs, color and skin condition, airway\npatency and the need for suctioning, drainage from tubes and drains, condition of patient dressings,\nintake/output, and/or any changes in patient observed throughout shift\n13) Incumbent must be able to recognize, respond, report, and assist in emergencies i.e.: code blue, RRT,\nand all natural disasters.\n14) Responsible for ensuring proper room set up and stocking of supplies.\n15) May assist RN with administering Bolus Tube Feedings via G-tube, J-tube, GJ-tube by positioning the\npatient and passing supplies.\n16) May perform simple to sterile wound care.\n17) May collect specimens: urine, blood, stool, sputum, nasal swabs, nasal washing, and rectal swabs in the\npresence of the patient using two identifiers as per policy. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:00 am - 7:30 pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 520-00376-F\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]