Career Center

The restorative Nursing Assistant provides restorative care and therapeutic activities within the Community Living Centers (CLCs). The restorative Nursing Assistant is assigned to work with residents requiring skilled management of physical and cognitive problems with the goal of achieving and maintaining optimal physical, mental and psychosocial functioning of CLC residents. 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. English Language Proficiency: NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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. Grade Requirements: Creditable Experience: Knowledge of Current Practice: To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice. Quality of Experience: To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. 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 as described above 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 KSAs, GS-5: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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. Assignment: This is the full performance level for NAs. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. NAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G46 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. Physical Requirements: The position requires regular and recurring periods of standing and walking. Work requires extensive bending, lifting, stooping, pushing, pulling and similar activities. May require heavy lifting of resident or equipment not to exceed 30 pounds. The employee works with different types of personalities and is closely involved with disabled, acute, chronic, and seriously ill residents. He/she must possess stable personality and good mental health and demonstrate cheerfulness, compassion, courtesy, and concern. Work Environment: Duties are performed in a health care environment as defined by TVHS and involves regular and recurring potential for exposure to infection and contagious disease as well as potential exposure to anger, hostile and combative resident. In situations that may induce stress, the restorative nursing assistant must possess above average skill in interpersonal relations and ability to remain calm in emergencies. Work is normally performed on the CLC's in resident's rooms and common living areas, or in the gymnasium. ["This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until 9/30/2022. The restorative Nursing Assistant functions in a leadership role in directing restorative care activities and is an integral part of the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team throughout the CLCs. This person demonstrates a high degree of knowledge and expertise of restorative concepts and interventions. Major Functions: Performs care according to the CLC Restorative Nursing Program: bowel and bladder retraining/scheduled toileting programs, bed mobility, ambulation and transfers, dressing and grooming, amputation and prosthetic care, range of motion, splint and brace care, dining, and communication programs Carries out the restorative nursing programs according to the plan of care for the resident Uses interventions that assist or promote the residents ability to attain his or her maximum functional potential Demonstrates proper use of various augmentative and alternative communication devices to promote independence, expand communication, and increase social interactions Performs active and passive range of motion Provides verbal and physical guidance and direction that teaches the resident how to apply, manipulate, and care for a brace or splint Identifies and performs proper transfer procedures using appropriate techniques, body mechanics, and equipment Records accurate data related to Restorative Nursing Programs on established forms Documents residents' responses to interventions in the medical record as indicated Communicates with nursing regarding residents' statuses and restorative nursing requirements Educates resident on his/her restorative nursing programs Demonstrates knowledge of the aging process and ability to contribute to a restorative plan of care Participates in team conferences for planning resident care and health teaching, contributes to the plan of care, and documents information in resident's medical record following stated guidelines in nursing service policies and procedures manual Understands the resident's condition and medical treatment in order to be able to observe and report significant changes that require action by the nurse or physician Must be innovative in approaches to adapt basic nursing measures to meet physical, social, emotional, and rehabilitative needs of the older resident Implements resuscitative measures and emergency response protocol, as prescribed for cardiac or respiratory arrest Performs preventive as well as basic teaching to assist and motivate the resident to achieve or maintain highest functional level Understands the use of care requirement such as various types of bed frames, trapeze bars, lifts wheelchairs, and oxygen equipment Uses problem solving approach in dealing with resident and staff problems in a manner that promotes dignity and growth of the individuals Assists in the assessment of residents for participation in Restorative Nursing Programs Preferred experience: Due to the specific nature of the functions listed above, it is preferred candidates have experience specific to the performance of restorative care, i.e., providing restorative care and therapeutic activities for the aging population based upon a high degree of knowledge and expertise of restorative concepts and interventions. Work Schedule: Based on the needs of the service\nTelework: Not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]