Nursing Assistant - SCI and Rehab

Veterans Health Administration • Hampton, VA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant provides care to patients and residents in the SCI and Rehab Department. Under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse, the incumbent assists with nursing care for patients and residents with physical and/or behavioral needs in hospital, long-term care, or outpatient settings. The role contributes to care plans and recovery, monitors and reports changes in patients’ physical or emotional status, communicates information to the treatment team, and documents patient and resident conditions in the chart.

The Nursing Assistant uses equipment and supplies for basic diagnostic and treatment procedures, supports veterans’ self-care with equipment such as lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and the Veteran/Resident Wandering System, and helps maintain a clean and safe environment. The position includes responding to urgent care situations while awaiting assistance and may involve precepting new Nursing Assistants. The work schedule is 1530–2400, with rotating holidays and weekends. Telework is not available; this is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• One year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation, or completion of an intensive, specialized occupation-related Nursing Assistant course of less than one year; specified grandfathering provisions may also apply.
• For GS-4: one year of specialized Nursing Assistant experience or experience in another medical field performing technical and nursing skills, or successful completion of two years above high school in an accredited institution with related courses; required KSAs must also be demonstrated.
• For GS-5: one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 with directly related KSAs, or a qualifying four-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree, including 24 semester hours related to health care, or possession of a bachelor’s degree; required KSAs must also be demonstrated.
• Ability to provide a range of patient and resident care and contribute to care plans and recovery.
• Ability to observe physical or emotional status and promptly report deviations or problems.
• Ability to use equipment and supplies for simple diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, residents, families, and health professionals.
• Ability to assist with nursing care for patients or residents with physical or behavioral problems under nursing direction.
• Ability to communicate orally with patients, residents, families, interdisciplinary teams, and other personnel, including precepting new Nursing Assistants.
• Ability to recognize and respond to emergent care situations and intervene while awaiting assistance.
• Compliance with pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, required identification and onboarding, and urinalysis for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements, including heavy lifting of 45 pounds or more, pulling, reaching, use of both hands, walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending, specified vision and hearing capabilities, color distinction, and mental and emotional stability.
• Selected applicants must serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Responsibilities

• Provide a range of patient and resident care and contribute to nursing care plans and recovery.
• Observe patients’ and residents’ physical or emotional status and promptly refer deviations or problems to a supervisor.
• Use equipment, materials, and supplies for simple diagnostic and treatment procedures, including bladder scans, continuous passive motion devices, blood glucose monitoring machines, and specimen collection.
• Communicate effectively with patients, residents, families, health professionals, the interdisciplinary team, and other personnel.
• Precept new Nursing Assistants by assisting with orientation coordination and overseeing or assessing practical experience in a clinical setting.
• Recognize and respond to emergent patient or resident care situations and intervene while awaiting assistance, such as providing basic life support, controlling bleeding, or assisting with a behavioral crisis.
• Assist with the full range of nursing care under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse.
• Use equipment to promote veteran self-care, including lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and the Veteran/Resident Wandering System.
• Verbally provide patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran’s or resident’s plan of care.
• Enter information about residents’ conditions in the chart using appropriate formats.
• Help maintain a clean and safe environment for patients and residents.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 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.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED