Summary The Nursing Assistant (NA) positions will be located in our Geriatrics Unit. Will provide specialized personal nursing care to residents whose care may be impacted by psychiatric, medical and geriatric conditions. Performs multi-step treatments and procedures requiring skills and extensive knowledge specific to resident conditions, medical treatment, and an understanding of the effects of the treatment. Responsibilities Provides specialized personal nursing care to residents whose care may be impacted by psychiatric, medical and geriatric conditions. Performs multi-step treatments and procedures requiring skills and extensive knowledge specific to resident conditions, medical treatment, and an understanding of the effects of the treatment. The work consists of providing a range of resident care and contributes to the completion of the treatment plan and the recovery of residents. This can include personal care, diagnostic support procedures, treatments, charting and resident teaching. The scope of care encompasses 24 hour, seven days a week responsibility and contributes to the functioning of all other services. Major duties of the position include: Able to determine the differences of both physical and psychological effects of aging and distinguishes between normal aging process and pathological changes. Uses various techniques such as distraction and re-approach to provide care when dealing with residents with dementia. Adapts and uses effective approaches in resident interactions to help prevent problem behaviors (including but not limited to withdrawal, agitation, yelling, confusion, wandering or any behavior that is physically or emotionally harmful to the resident or another person). Recognizes emergency situations and institutes appropriate actions such as CPR, emergency measures for choking and trained in First Aid. Performs work requiring specialized knowledge of personal care procedures. Assists and encourages residents in activities of daily living (ADL), such as bed baths, showers, shampoos, oral hygiene, shaving, care of skin, nails, grooming, dressing and undressing. Provides care of body after death, including collecting personal effects, preparing body for and transporting to morgue. Assists with resident examinations and does treatments as directed by the professional nurse. Performs a complete range of treatments and procedures that include: applying simple dressings and bandages, performs hot and cold soaks, applies topical hot and cold packs, foot soaks and sitz baths. Recognizes the need to allow geriatric and dementia residents more time to complete physical hygiene tasks. Performs a range of diagnostic support duties which include taking and recording temperatures, pulses, respirations, blood pressures. Reports deviations to the Team Leader or Charge Nurse. Gives non-medicated enemas, applies external catheters, performs catheter and colostomy care, and provides perinea! care for residents with catheters. Assist with or feeds residents as appropriate to individual and nutritional needs. Assists the resident with positioning, turning, ambulating, and transferring. Relates and adapts techniques to resident's condition. Escorts residents and assumes responsibility for continual observation to assure their well-being, to prevent elopement, and to note and report obvious and subtle changes in behavior. Establishes and promotes effective interpersonal relationships and communicates with all customers, including but not limited to residents, families, members of the healthcare team and others. All other duties assigned. Work Schedule: 1 position available for Day shift: 7:30PM-4:00PM, with rotating days, weekends, and Holidays. 1 position available for PM shift: 3:30PM-Midnight, with rotating days, weekends, and Holidays. Telework: This is not a telework position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Nursing Assistant (NA)- Clinical Pathway Patriots Place and Veteran Village GS-621 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. 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 examination. 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: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. [Experience or] Education or Training: [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. 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 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: 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-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 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 experience in long term care, home health care, or dementia as a nursing assistant and/or certified nursing assistant. 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 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: Walking, bending, stooping, and lifting in the direct care of patients; some extended periods of sitting and/or standing. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. 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). 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.