Nursing Assistant is located at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, in Nursing/Patient Care Services. This position is for the Home Care: Homemaker/Home Health Aide. The duty of the Nursing Assistant is to protect, to nurture, and to sustain the elder, to maintain the safety and cleanliness of the environment, and for providing high quality care. The Nursing Assistant will participate in team building, scheduling, housekeeping, and quality improvement initiatives. 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. Education or Training: One year above high school with courses related to the [NA] occupation. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical per VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grandfathering Provisions. All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Grade Determinations: GS-5 Nursing Assistant (Full performance) 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. Examples of qualifying experience include but may not be limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff, and other members of a care team 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. 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 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 [NAs] 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/81 PART II APPENDIX G46 MARCH 12, 2015 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The position potentially requires long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or other psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. ["This is an open continuous posting and may close before the listed closing date. A certificate will be issued every 15 days until a selection is made. The Nursing Assistant, Home Care: Homemaker/Home Health Aide duties include but not limited to: Provides patient centered care to Veterans in a manner conductive to the comfort and safety of those in the small home. Protect, sustain, and nurture the Veteran by providing assistance with activities of daily living, and with other needs as required. Work with the Veteran and interdisciplinary team in autonomous roles without constant and direct supervision. Act as a liaison between the team and families, volunteers, community members and other members of the staff including the clinical support team. Participates in all team meetings and communicates decisions to team members and others. Plans menus with Veterans for regular and modified diets. Develops systems to monitor temperatures, sanitation, and safety. Monitor appetites and food intake of Veterans and for obtaining and recording weights as outlined by the Clinical Support Team. Ensures all areas of the residence, indoors and outdoors, are clean and presentable. Ensures that care has been provided and that documentation has been completed as outlined in the Veterans' care plans. Plans and carries out recreational activities in the homes, outdoors and off-station. Performs comprehensive nursing care for medical, long-term care, and/or dementia residents in the rehabilitative process. Recognizes, records, and reports behavior which indicates disorientation to time, place, person, and situation. Prepares and serve food in the small homes. Responsible for arranging transportation, escort, and equipment. Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours biweekly), 3rd shift, with rotation to all tours, weekends, and holidays. 1st or 2nd shift (with rotation to all tours, weekends, and holidays) may be available. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 667-00189-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
