Career Center

Summary

The Nursing Assistant (NA) positions provide direct patient care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. NAs will intermittently support patients requiring nursing care and observation across Medical - Surgical - Rehabilitation - Mental Health - or CLC inpatient and outpatient units throughout the New York Harbor Healthcare System. They are accountable for adhering to standards of care and practice - and for maintaining competencies relevant to their roles and responsibilities.

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:

• Citizenship: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• AND - Experience - Education or Training: You may qualify based on your experience - training - and/or education as described below: General Experience: Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA
• OR - Education: One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR - Training: Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related [training] course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Grandfather Provision: 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)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-03 Entry Level: Nursing Assistant Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements (see above)
• GS-4 Level: Nursing Assistant Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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: 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 resident's 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-05 Level: Nursing Assistant: 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 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: 1 - 2 years of Nursing Assistant experience in a long-term care or Community Living Center (CLC) facility
• Reference: 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: 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
• ii 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
• iii 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.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to): Nursing Care Activities: Activities of Daily Living
• Assists /supervises feeding of patients/residents/ feeds
• Lifting and transferring
• Positioning of patients
• Range of motion exercises Restorative activities - rehabilitation and recreation
• One to one/close observation
• Direct Patient Care Activities: Taking and recording of vital signs including
• TPR's and blood pressures
• GS-5 staff will perform venipuncture or receive venipuncture training
• Apply non-sterile dry dressing to skin Records and reports intake and output
• Positions the patient and assists in diagnostic examinations and therapeutic treatments
• Recognizes and reports changes in the patients' condition to the charge nurse/team leader
• Performs uncomplicated dressing changes
• Collects labels - bags and delivers specimens to the lab
• Takes appropriate action in emergency situations as in a crisis or code
• Escort patients/residents to various clinics - therapies and activities within and outside the center
• Documenting and Reporting Activities: Participates in nursing care planning by providing information received by the patient/significant other to the appropriate team members
• - Record observations and treatments on the patients' record according to approved format
• Reports changes in patients' condition to the appropriate team member
• Motivation/Patient Teaching Activities: Through emphasis on good health habits - the employee provides the needed impetus for participation in activities of daily living with the ultimate goal of achieving self-care status at the highest level of patient's capability
• Serves as a preceptor to new hires Intermittent and full time [NAs] by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting
• Provides guidance (within their scope of practice) with one - one and close observations - patient rounding - patient ambulation and hourly rounds etc
• Work Schedule: Various shifts available - 7:30am-4:00pm - 3:30pm - 12:00am - or 12:00am - 8:00am Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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
• 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
• Functional Statement #: 13459-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.