Nursing Assistant-Geriatric Extended Care

Veterans Health Administration • Baltimore, MD

11h • Onsite

About The Position

The Geriatric Extended Care Nursing Assistant provides care to Veterans with physical and/or behavioral health issues and supports licensed nursing staff in preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. This position is located at Loch Raven VAMC. Nursing Assistants develop skills to participate in assessing, implementing, and evaluating nursing care. Work is performed under close supervision and with appropriate training.

The position requires providing direct care to complex Veterans, monitoring and documenting their condition and care, responding to changes, performing nursing procedures within the scope of practice, supporting resident activities and independence, and contributing to treatment planning and unit safety. The Nursing Assistant also serves as a safe patient handling liaison, preceptor, and mentor, and may orient members of the health care team to the unit.

The full performance level is GS-05; selection may be at GS-03 through GS-05. The work schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on rotating shifts. Telework and virtual work are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of non-citizens is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the basic experience or education requirement through one of the following: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire Nursing Assistant knowledge and skills; one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training course of less than one year.
• For GS-4, one year of specialized Nursing Assistant or other medical-field experience performing technical and nursing skills, or two years of relevant post-high-school education, plus the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities for patient care, observation and referral, equipment use, and communication.
• For GS-5, one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 plus the specified professional knowledge, skills, and abilities, or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with 24 semester hours of relevant health-care courses, or a bachelor’s degree.
• Ability to provide nursing care to patients or residents with physical and/or behavioral problems under the direction of an RN and/or LVN/LPN.
• Ability to communicate orally with patients or residents, families, interdisciplinary team members, and other personnel; GS-5 preceptor duties include assisting with new Nursing Assistant orientation and overseeing or assessing clinical practical experience.
• Ability to recognize and respond to emergent patient-care situations, including the need for basic life support, bleeding control, or assistance with a behavioral crisis.
• Complete required pre-employment evaluation, background/security investigation, onboarding, and drug screening if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment upon its completion.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience working in hospice and/or a long-term care setting.

Responsibilities

• Use a glucose monitoring machine to obtain readings and refer deviations to appropriate health care staff.
• Provide direct care to complex Veterans and observe subtle changes in residents’ condition, including changes in behavior, mood, skin color, or appetite; take appropriate action within the assigned role.
• Document care, observations, responses, and residents’ condition using appropriate tools, forms, formats, and charts.
• Respond to patient changes by contacting appropriate nursing personnel.
• Administer complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitor and document patient intake and output, reporting deviations accurately and promptly.
• Perform nursing procedures within scope of practice and applicable policies, including enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressing, and application of braces and prosthetic devices.
• Work with Veterans and residents in small group activities according to their treatment plans.
• Promote residents’ autonomy and independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Participate in treatment planning meetings and provide patient information to the treatment team for care planning.
• Use equipment to promote Veteran self-care, including lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and the Veteran/Resident Wandering System.
• Help maintain a clean and safe environment; remove defective equipment, report hazards, follow safety regulations, contribute to infection control, and use proper aseptic technique.
• Serve as the unit safe patient handling liaison.
• Serve as a preceptor and mentor to other Nursing Assistants and orient health care team members to the unit as appropriate.
• Function as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Manage disruptive patient behavior, intervene appropriately, and request assistance from other health care team members.
• Initiate basic life support and take appropriate action in emergent situations.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility requirements.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed