Summary Nursing Assistants in the Central Arkansas Veteran Healthcare System, Nursing Service, are members 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. Responsibilities Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf The duties of the Nursing Assistant include, but are not limited to: Assists patients/residents with activities of daily living, i.e., bathing, shaving, feeding, oral hygiene, ambulation, dressing, etc. Assists lower graded Nursing Assistants in the completion of these duties as well. Assists Registered Nurses, therapists and others in the rehabilitation and or providing care for patients/residents. Assures the residents are prepared to engage in therapy as much as possible. Ability to use clean and aseptic technique to perform various non-medicine treatments, i.e., wound cleansing, applying dressings, performing catheter care, applying external catheters, performing perianal care and monitoring for early signs of breakdown - notifies Registered Nurses, etc. Cares for patient/resident and prevents complications of limited mobility or immobilization by turning, maintaining proper body alignment, range of motion exercises, assists with deep breathing and cough. Encourages and provides adequate nutrition and hydration within ordered diet. Assists with observation and monitoring of enteral feeding and/or gastro tube and notifies Registered Nurses of concerns or issues. Accurately monitors intake and output and daily weights as ordered. Monitors intravenous fluids by informing the nurse of the need to add fluids, any alarm and any patient/resident concerns. Monitors for pain, leakage, swelling or redness at site and notifies nurse immediately. Is a leader in activities that promote safety for the veteran and others in the work area, including, but not limited to, performing monitoring of the patient safety monitoring system after completion of orientation and completion of competency demonstration. Assists with safety monitors such as hand hygiene, safety support or others. Precepts and trains new and lower graded staff in functions of Nursing Assistants. Provides patient care in a timely manner, recognizing and responding to physical, psychological, spiritual, and emotional needs of patients. Establishes a positive rapport with family/caregiver, internal and community-based services and disciplines involved in providing care to the patient. Makes caring for the veteran his/her priority while in the work setting and demonstrates customer service principles in all aspects of work. Assists the RN 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. Participates in the coordination of care focused on patient transition through the continuum of care, patient and family education, patient self-management after discharge, and supporting factors that impact customer satisfaction. Considers all characteristics of the individual, including age and life stages, state of health, race and culture, values, and previous experiences. Administers care per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team. Participates in unit/program level quality improvement processes and initiatives as well as customer service programs. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 8:00 pm days, rotating weekends and holidays subject to change based on the needs of the service. Relocation Incentive: 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) 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 #: 598-00007-F, 598-00008-F, 598-00009-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j. Experience or Education or Training. (1) Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR, (2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR, (3) 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. 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: GS-03 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Resume must include average hours worked per week for work experience credit. Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-03 Nursing Assistants are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. GS-04 Nursing Assistant Experience. One 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. Resume must include average hours worked per week for work experience credit. 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 to the experience or education above, 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-05 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level) Experience. One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-04 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. Resume must include average hours worked per week for work experience credit. 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. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 Nursing Assistants 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. Preferred Experience: Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is desired. If selected for this position, per VHA Directive 1177, you must possess current BCLS certification as you will provide direct clinical care to patients in this position. Demonstrates ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing. Knowledge of computer systems and standard software programs. Demonstrates skills in managing complex systems, with advanced organizational skills. Knowledge and understanding of Department of Veterans Affairs regulations/policies/procedures, current Joint Commission Standards, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and other current internal and external accrediting body standards. Demonstrates a pleasant and respectful disposition. Demonstrates the ability to respond in a positive manner with Mental Health and Behavioral Science veterans. 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 occurs within a typical hospital setting. The physical demands involve heavy lifting and carrying (45 pounds and over), pulling hand over hand (2-4 hours), pushing (2-4 hours), frequent reaching above shoulders, walking (8 hours), standing (8 hours), repeated bending (2-4 hours), and ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Physical characteristics include the use of both hands and fingers required, both legs required, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (with or without aid), and mental and emotional stability. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). Environmental Factors. The work conditions include exposure to dust, fumes, smoke, or gases, electrical energy, and working with hands in water. Nursing Assistants will work closely with others and protracted or irregular work schedules will be required. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.