This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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 in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade requirements. Creditable Experience: (1) Knowledge of Current Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice. (2) 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. (3) 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-3 NA (Entry Level) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 NA (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. ~AND~ Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, 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 NA (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 Certified Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard. Dated: March 12, 2015. 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: The work requires heavy lifting (over 45 pounds), straight pulling (up to 6 hours), pushing (up to 2 hours), reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (up to 6 hours), standing (up to 2 hours), repeated bending (up to 6 hours), the ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability, and visual acuity correctable to 20/30. ["~INCENTIVES MAY BE AUTHORIZED~ SUMMARY: The incumbent would provide direct and indirect care to the psychiatric in-patient Veterans and out-patient Veterans in the Mental Health Service Line. Also serves as a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team in motivating Veterans and redirecting their behavior toward treatment plan goals. These Veterans have a wide range of psychiatric illnesses, often accompanied by medical complications. The treatment objectives are established by the treatment team. Patients may have a combination of acute or chronic health conditions, diminished cognitive functioning, including dementia, mild to severe disability, or receiving palliative or hospice care. Veteran patients have diverse cultural backgrounds, including race, gender orientation, or religion. The NA must demonstrate the ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing care team and interact with Veterans, family members, other health care professionals and other employees of the organization. The NA participates with the health care team to deliver quality care to Veterans while they are admitted to the hospital. The duties and responsibilities of CNA include but are not limited to: MAJOR DUTIES: (1) The employee in this position is assigned on a regular basis to a Psychiatric area. He/she performs all duties outlined in the position description and performs nursing care tasks. (2) Functions as a member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team and assists the Registered Nurse in the care of Veterans with Acute and Chronic Mental Health needs, including observing, recording, and reporting changes in their behavior, and providing reassurance and encouragement. (3) Work with multidisciplinary staff to achieve treat1v-ent goals for Veterans by providing input and feedback concerning the effectiveness of interventions. (4) Provides a full range of nursing care to Veterans with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems including personal nursing care, diagnostic support duties and treatment procedures; appropriately responds to Veteran needs and reports changes in Veteran condition to the RN. (5) Performs support duties using initiative and without specific direction such as taking vital signs, recording and reporting deviations to the supervisor; collects specimens and labels for laboratory. (6) Participates in admissions, transfers, escorting Veterans to appointments and therapies, discharges and contributing to the formulation of Treatment goals. (7) Assists in providing information to Veterans and participates in recovery oriented programming including topics such as social skills training, music group, exercise/walking group, therapeutic recreation group, and ADL skills group. (8) Records subjective and objective and significant information about the Veteran's behavior in relation to the treatment plan and Veteran's response to care given on the Veteran's clinical record. (9) Recognizes and respond appropriately to medical and psychiatric emergency situations. (10) Participates in the use of Restraint and Seclusion (R/S), including proper use of and application of R/S; 1:1 observation and documentation on the behavioral R/S flow sheet; release from R/S and QM R/S monitor/ review. (11) Participates in the Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior; uses principles to prevent or respond to psychiatric emergencies; participates in Code Green Team responses and assists with proper documentation of the intervention. (12) Provides intensive observation, including 1: 1 observation and Continuous Nursing Observation and complies with procedure to ensure Veteran safety. (13) Conducts and documents safety rounds/ environmental rounds per procedure as assigned with an understanding of the importance of monitoring the environment on a continuous basis and reporting actual or potential hazards per policy. (14) Verifies and understands the proper procedures for the cleaning of reusable medical equipment utilized in the assigned area. (15) Maintains cleanliness of the work area and ensures that the Veteran care areas are stocked with needed supplies. (16) Maintains positive relationships with Veterans, visitors, and personnel. Answers telephones and call lights. Receives and directs Veterans and/or their families by answering routine questions. (17) Additional duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday: 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Certified Nursing Assistant, GS-0621-3/4/5; FS: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Stacy.Hermann@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
