Nursing Assistant

Veterans Health Administration•Hines, IL

14d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant (NA) is an integral member of the care team, performing basic nursing duties under close supervision from registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and experienced nursing assistants. The position serves patients in the Community Living Center (CLC), Acute Rehabilitation Unit, and Blind Rehabilitation Unit, providing activities of daily living and other care that supports Veterans’ treatment plans, recovery, and wellness under the direction of a licensed health care provider. The full performance level is GS-5; the vacancy may be filled at GS-3 through GS-5. At GS-3, the NA supports personal hygiene and grooming, comfort, activity, exercise, rest, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, and rehabilitative care under close supervision. The NA observes, reports, and documents patient information; communicates with the interdisciplinary care team through the computerized EHR and other listed communication tools; assists with therapeutic group activities, patient orientation, escorts, and transport; obtains routine supplies; and follows safety, confidentiality, body-mechanics, and equipment-use procedures. The NA completes required training, maintains BLS, works toward CNA certification, and participates in competency assessments. At GS-4, the NA provides a range of patient and resident care, contributes to completion of care plans and recovery, observes physical and emotional status and promptly reports concerns, uses equipment and supplies for basic diagnostic and treatment procedures, and communicates with patients, families, and health professionals. At GS-5, the NA performs the GS-3 and GS-4 functions and assists with the full range of nursing care for patients with physical or behavioral needs. The NA may precept new nursing assistants, respond to emergencies while awaiting assistance, monitor and report glucose readings and changes in patient condition, document care, perform tracheostomy care including suctioning, carry out procedures within scope and policy, lead treatment-plan-related group activities, promote independence, and help maintain a clean and safe environment. The position is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., with rotating weekends and holidays. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. Physical requirements include prolonged periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; patient and object transfers may be required. The NA may encounter infectious patients or contaminated materials, use protective clothing, and occasionally encounter combative patients. The role requires flexibility and effective work in stressful situations. Annual employee health requirements, such as TB screening or testing, apply.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Meet one basic qualification pathway: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire NA skills; one year of education above high school with relevant coursework; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related NA training program of less than one year.
GS-4 qualification: one year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or in another medical field performing technical and nursing skills, or two years of relevant education above high school; and the specified patient-care, observation, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
GS-5 qualification: one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4, or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with 24 semester hours of health-care-related courses or possession of a bachelor’s degree; and the specified nursing-care, communication/precepting, and emergency-response abilities.
Maintain BLS and complete mandatory training; work toward obtaining CNA certification.
Pass a pre-employment physical examination and required background/security investigation; complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification.
If selected, serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual employee health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.
Meet physical requirements including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and capacity for prolonged walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, and possible patient and object transfers.
Work effectively and flexibly in stressful situations and shift priorities based on patient needs.
For male applicants born after December 31, 1959, Selective Service registration is required.

Nice To Haves

Three to five years of long-term care experience is strongly preferred.
Availability to work weekends and holidays and a 12-hour night shift is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide basic nursing care and activities of daily living under the direction and supervision of licensed health care providers.
Support patient hygiene, grooming, comfort, activity, exercise, rest, nutrition, elimination, skin integrity, and rehabilitation needs.
Observe patients’ physical and emotional status; report deviations, concerns, and changes promptly to appropriate staff.
Collect, report, and document observations and care in the computerized EHR and communicate with the interdisciplinary health care team.
Use equipment, materials, and supplies for patient care and simple diagnostic or treatment procedures, including bladder scans, continuous passive motion devices, glucose monitoring, and specimen collection.
Communicate with patients, families, interdisciplinary team members, and other personnel.
Participate in therapeutic group activities and support patient treatment plans, independence, and self-care.
Escort Veterans and residents and transport items within the campus.
Obtain and organize routine supplies and equipment; assist with orienting patients and families to unit routines and policies.
Follow safety, confidentiality, body-mechanics, and equipment-use procedures; help maintain a clean and safe environment.
Complete mandatory training, maintain BLS, work toward CNA certification, and participate in competency assessments.
At GS-5, serve as a preceptor for new nursing assistants and assist with their orientation and practical experience assessment.
Recognize and respond to emergent patient-care situations, initiate basic life support, and intervene while awaiting assistance.
At GS-5, perform complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning, and nursing procedures within scope of practice and applicable policies.
Work rotating weekends and holidays.