Nursing Assistant-Medical, Surgical, Oncology, Telemetry (C1)

Veterans Health Administration • Johnson City, TN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant (NA) works as a member of the nursing care team and provides clinical and administrative support in patient care under the direction of licensed health care providers. The NA assists with preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care for patients and residents, including people with physical and behavioral conditions. Duties may be performed in inpatient, outpatient, long-term care, hospice or palliative care, acute-care, and other areas of the medical center.

The position includes assisting patients with activities of daily living and other personal care, observing and recording relevant patient information in the electronic medical record, and reporting changes in physical or emotional status. The NA may assist with diagnostic studies and treatments, teach or support patients in selected procedures, and respond to emergencies while awaiting assistance. The NA is expected to work with initiative and limited supervision, model and teach proper techniques to other nursing assistants, and support patient motivation, independence, rehabilitation, self-reliance, and dignity. The role may include escort services, patient transport, and cleaning reusable medical equipment. Work is full-time on a rotational schedule, with assignments potentially across Veteran-care areas that provide services 24/7.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• One year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation, or qualifying completion of an intensive, specialized occupation-related Nursing Assistant course of less than one year.
• For GS-4: one year of specialized Nursing Assistant or other medical-field experience involving technical and nursing skills, knowledge of physical and emotional states, therapeutic communication, and basic and intermediate treatments; or two years of relevant post-high-school study at an accredited institution.
• For GS-4, ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to care plans and recovery; observe physical or emotional status and report concerns; properly use equipment and supplies for simple diagnostic and treatment procedures; and communicate effectively with patients, families, and health professionals.
• For GS-5: one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 with relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities; or completion of a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree that included 24 semester hours of health-care-related courses, or possession of a bachelor's degree.
• For GS-5, ability to assist with the full range of nursing care under the direction of an RN and/or LVN/LPN; communicate orally with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and other personnel, including precepting new nursing assistants; and recognize and respond to emergent care situations.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and meet applicable background and security requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required onboarding and application documentation; selected applicants must provide acceptable identification.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Physical ability to perform heavy lifting and carrying of 45 pounds or more; pulling and pushing; reaching above the shoulders; use of both hands and fingers; walking and standing for extended periods; kneeling; repeated bending; and patient or object transfers.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations, remain flexible and sensible, and shift priorities based on patient needs.
• Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity are required.
• May be exposed to infectious patients, contaminated materials, isolation or operative/invasive procedures requiring protective clothing, and occasionally combative patients.

Nice To Haves

• One year of Nursing Assistant experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal care and assist patients with activities of daily living.
• Assist licensed nursing staff with preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care.
• Observe patients' physical and emotional status and report deviations or problems to a supervisor in a timely manner.
• Record pertinent patient-care information in the electronic medical record.
• Recognize and respond to emergent patient-care situations while waiting for assistance, including basic life-support needs, bleeding, and behavioral crises.
• Assist with or perform diagnostic studies and treatments, including basic procedures such as bladder scans, continuous passive motion, blood glucose monitoring, and specimen collection.
• Assist or teach patients regarding selected treatment procedures.
• Support patient motivation, independence, rehabilitation, self-reliance, self-worth, and dignity.
• Provide clinical and administrative support, including direct patient care, patient transport, and cleaning reusable medical equipment when assigned to Escort Services.
• Demonstrate and teach proper techniques and procedures to nursing assistant staff; serve as a preceptor to new nursing assistants when assigned.
• Communicate with patients, families, interdisciplinary team members, and other health professionals.
• Work in assigned Veteran-care areas throughout the medical center as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases, with possible consideration for a higher step rate based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Child-care subsidy may be available to eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income, child eligibility, and monthly limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Prior work or military service may qualify for annual-leave accrual credit, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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