Summary

The Central Texas Health Care System is seeking qualified Nursing Assistants for our Acute Psychiatric Unit. This unit supports Veterans as they work toward returning to daily life by addressing their psychosocial - medical - and emotional needs. Nursing Assistants play a key role on the care team - assisting licensed staff in delivering preventive - acute - chronic - and hospice care.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Experience - Education or Training
• You must meet one of the following to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA): Six (6) months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA
• OR - One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR - 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS-03: None beyond the basic requirements
• NAs at this grade NAs are considered entry-level and are closely supervised
• GS-04: To qualify at the GS-4 level you must meet the following: EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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 two (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 - in addition you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (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-05: To qualify at the GS-5 level you must meet the following: EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment
• Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home - or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative - acute - sub-acute - chronic - maintenance - and hospice care
• OR - EDUCATION: Successful completion of 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 you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (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: Evidence of Lean Belt training or experience Professional Governance participation Certified Nursing Assistant Current BLS certification 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: ""The work is sedentary
• Some work may require movement between offices - hospitals - warehouses - and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work
• Work may also require walking/standing - in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site
• Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.""

Duties

• CTVHCS is in the process of making a cultural change - shifting from a disease-focused approach to a health and wellbeing approach - in order to implement the Whole Health System of Care
• This is a VA-wide initiative to provide a comprehensive and systematic approach to improve healthcare delivery at all stages of Veteran care
• This entails moving from an episodic - \"siloed\" approach to an interdisciplinary - holistic approach - emphasizing self-care in the larger context of well-being
• All staff in this facility will be part of this process - shifting the focus from the question - \"What's the matter with you?\" to the question - \"What matters to you - and how can we help you live your best life?\" This strategy also involves integrating a full range of conventional approaches with Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) approaches in order to optimize lifelong health and well-being - as defined by the Veteran - rather than narrowly focusing on disease management.The Nursing Assistant (NA) is learning to perform basic nursing duties under close supervision in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient - inpatient - home - or community living care - acute - sub-acute
• The NA will care for patients/residents with acute chronic conditions
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Utilize glucose monitoring machine to collect and document appropriate glucose readings for assigned veteran
• Utilize observation skills for data collection - reporting and recording patient/resident observation
• Administers oxygen therapy
• Provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents
• Ability to properly use equipment - materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures including - but not limited to bladder scan - continuous passive motion device - and specimen collection
• Assist with minor procedures - including obtaining and arranging necessary equipment - positioning patient - ensuring comfort and privacy
• Reinforces patient and family heath education - to include self-management - prevention - and wellness
• Measures - records vital signs and enters them in CPRS
• Reports all significant deviations to the LVN - RN and/or other health care provider
• Identify urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance - and intervene as directed when appropriate
• Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full-time - Rotating Shifts - All Tours: 7:30 a.m
• - 4:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m
• - 12:00 a.m
• (midnight) - 11:30 p.m
• - 8:00 a.m. - or 7:30 a.m
• - 8:00 p.m. - 11:30 a.m
• - 12:00 a.m
• (midnight) - and 7:30 p.m
• - 8:00 a.m
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized 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 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
• 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 #: 53053F - 53054F - and 53055F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized