Nursing Assistant (Community Living Center)

Veterans Health Administration • Murfreesboro, TN

20h • Onsite

About The Position

The Alvin C. York Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is recruiting a Nursing Assistant for its Community Living Center. The position provides direct care to veterans, including veterans with complex needs, and works as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team. The Nursing Assistant observes and documents residents’ conditions, reports changes to appropriate nursing personnel, and contributes to individualized care plans and resident independence. The role also includes clinical procedures within the Nursing Assistant’s scope of practice, maintaining a safe and clean care environment, supporting patient handling, and mentoring or orienting other team members. The full performance level is GS-05; applicants may be selected at GS-03 through GS-05. The work schedule is full-time, 80 hours per pay period, based on service needs, and includes some weekends and holidays. Telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointments when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the basic qualification 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 an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant course or program of less than one year.
• For GS-04 qualification, one year of specialized Nursing Assistant or other medical-field experience performing technical and nursing skills, or successful completion of two years of relevant post-high-school education, plus the required demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-05 qualification, one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-04 with relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities, or a qualifying four-year course of study/bachelor’s degree as specified in the announcement, plus the required demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Demonstrate ability to provide nursing care under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse; communicate orally with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and personnel; serve as a preceptor to new Nursing Assistants; and recognize and respond to emergent care situations while awaiting assistance.
• Undergo required background/security investigation, pre-employment requirements, and any applicable drug testing; complete the online onboarding process and required application documentation.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual Employee Health requirements, including influenza vaccination and TB screening or testing.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Meet the physical requirements, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, ability to sustain periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing, and ability to lift at least 50 pounds. Patient and object transfers may be required.
• Be able to work effectively in stressful situations, shift priorities based on organizational needs, and potentially work with infected patients, contaminated materials, protective clothing, or combative patients.

Nice To Haves

• Long-term care experience.

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’ behavior, mood, skin color, appetite, and other condition indicators; respond within the assigned role and report concerns promptly.
• Document care, observations, responses, intake, output, and residents’ conditions using appropriate forms and charting formats.
• Provide complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Perform procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures, including enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressings, application of braces and prosthetic devices, and monitoring.
• Work with veterans and residents in small-group activities according to their treatment plans.
• Respect residents’ autonomy and promote independence through respectful, individualized care and appropriate limit setting.
• Participate in treatment-planning meetings and provide resident 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, observe 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 patient behavior through appropriate interventions and request assistance from other health care team members when needed.
• 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 annual leave, 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 the 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 family income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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