Summary

The NY Harbor VA Healthcare System has 3 vacancies for a Nursing Assistant at the St. Albans VA Medical Center in Queens - NY in the Nursing department. Provides direct patient care to patients requiring nursing care and observation in a Medical - Surgical - and Rehabilitation - Mental Health - or CLC inpatient/ outpatient unit across the NYH HCS. The incumbent is accountable for adhering to the standards of care - standards of practice and maintaining competencies with role and responsibility.

Qualifications

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Experience - Education - or Training: Six months of general experience
• (Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of an NA)
• OR one year above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related course of study of less than one year which resulted in attaining certification as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. 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: Nursing Assistant - GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements
• Nursing Assistant - GS-4: Experience: One year of specialized experience as a nursing assistant or experience in another medical field (LPN - 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: 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 of 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.4
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents - their families and other health professionals
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents - their families and other health professionals
• Nursing Assistant - GS-5: 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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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 Vocation 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 nursing assistants by assisting with 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
• 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. Preferred Experience: 1-2 years NA experience in a long term care or CLC facility or acute care medical center
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position include lifting - prolonged standing and sitting - frequent bending - walking (distance) - climbing - reaching (overhead - extensive/repetitive) - pulling - pushing - repetitive motion and stooping
• The mental/sensory requirements include recall - reasoning - problem-solving - hearing - speaking clearly - writing legibly - keyboarding - reading and logical thinking - depth perception - hearing (aide permitted)
• near/far vision correctable to meet Driver's License requirements
• The environment's pace can vary from steady to a sometimes-fast pace requiring handling of multiple priorities - frequent - sometimes intense customer interactions - and the ability to adapt to frequent changes in a sometimes-noisy environment
• There may be the need to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to disease - illness and hazardous materials
• Work requires extensive walking - standing - stretching and bending in caring for patients.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Nursing Care Activities: Activities of Daily Living
• Assists /supervises feeding of patients/residents
• Lifting and transferring
• Positioning of patients
• Bowel and bladder training
• Restorative activities - rehabilitation and recreation
• One to one/close observations
• Hourly rounds
• Direct Patient Care Activities: Taking and recording of vital signs including
• TPR's and blood pressures
• Apply non-sterile dry dressing to skin Taking and recording weights and heights
• 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
• Assembles suctioning and oxygen equipment
• Applies external urinary and fecal drainage bags and tubing
• Assists with the application of hyper/hypothermia blanket
• Collects labels - bags and delivers specimens to the lab
• Is proficient in the use of patient care equipment such as
• patient lifters - mobilizers - scales - specialized beds and mattress overlays etc
• Takes appropriate action in emergency situations as in a crisis or code
• Applies prosthetic appliances i.e
• limbs - braces and etc
• Applies protective and supportive devices as ordered
• Escort patients/residents to various clinics - therapies and activities within and outside the center
• Positions patient /assist MD in diagnostic procedures
• 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
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 7:30-4PM - 3:30- MID - Midnight-8am Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 13459F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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)