Nursing Assistant-Medical, Surgical and Telemetry (C2)

Veterans Health Administration • Johnson City, TN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant in Medical, Surgical and Telemetry provides activities of daily living and a range of care that contributes to Veterans’ treatment plans, recovery, and wellness under the direction of a licensed health care provider. Duties may be performed in outpatient, inpatient, home, Community Living Center, acute, or sub-acute settings. The role may require assignment to other Veteran care areas throughout the medical center where services are available 24/7.

Depending on grade, duties include assisting with hygiene, bathing, grooming, bed linen changes, bedpans and urinals, admissions, discharges, and patient transfers; responding to calls for assistance; verifying patient identity before care; and supporting patient independence, rehabilitation, and restorative nursing. The Nursing Assistant works under the supervision and direction of an RN and/or Lead LPN, reports policy or procedure concerns, communicates messages, and participates in unit-level data collection and performance improvement. The role also includes assigned patient education activities and requirements related to the safe use, setup, reprocessing, and maintenance of reusable medical equipment.

This position serves adult and elderly Veterans in a medical center that provides medical, surgical, neurological, and psychiatric care. Employees may encounter infected patients, contaminated materials, isolation precautions, and patients who may be combative due to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The work requires flexibility and the ability to adapt priorities to patient needs and work effectively in stressful situations.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• One year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation, or an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant course of less than one year that may meet the GS-3 experience requirement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-4: one year of specialized Nursing Assistant or related medical-field experience requiring knowledge of human physical and emotional states, therapeutic communication, and basic and intermediate technical nursing skills; or two years of relevant post-high-school education.
• For GS-4: ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the nursing care plan and recovery; observe and report physical or emotional status changes; use equipment and supplies in basic 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; or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree that includes 24 semester hours related to health care, or a bachelor's degree.
• For GS-5: ability to assist with the full range of nursing care under an RN and/or LPN; communicate orally with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and other personnel; and recognize and respond to emergent care situations.
• Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements, including heavy lifting and carrying of 45 pounds or more, prolonged pushing and pulling, walking and standing, repeated bending, reaching above the shoulders, and use of both hands and legs.
• Must meet any applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete the online onboarding process and required application documentation.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment; refusing testing results in denial of employment.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period and receive written certification for continued employment after that period.

Nice To Haves

• One year of acute-care or skilled-care experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide and assist with oral hygiene, including suctioning of the oral cavity when necessary, and denture care.
• Change linens on occupied and unoccupied beds; assist patients with bedpans and urinals.
• Enter leave in a timely manner according to facility policy.
• Initiate or participate in unit-level quality or process improvement initiatives and participate in performance improvement activities.
• Collect data accurately as instructed by the Nurse Manager or designee.
• Carry out assigned teaching activities according to established plans and reinforce patient education.
• Know reusable equipment and supplies used in the assigned area, local reprocessing practices, and required decontamination and transport procedures.
• Assist with patient admissions, discharges, and transfers under RN and/or Lead LPN supervision and direction.
• Provide bed, tub, and shower baths; shampoo hair; and assist patients with grooming.
• Promote patient independence, rehabilitation, and restorative nursing according to the plan of care.
• Review contributions to nursing care and establish personal and professional development goals with assistance from the Nurse Manager or Nursing Education.
• Use supplies economically and safeguard them against misuse or loss.
• Receive annual unit-level education on knowledge and skills for caring for geriatric patients.
• Maintain documented training and competency in setup, reprocessing, and maintenance of assigned equipment; suspend reuse of equipment suspected of improper processing.
• Respond to patient calls for assistance in a timely manner and verify patient identity according to policy before providing care.
• Report failures to comply with established policies or procedures to the Nurse Manager or designee.
• Assist with answering the phone, relaying timely messages, and placing calls or pages as needed.
• Maintain ongoing education requirements set by the facility and assigned unit.
• Recognize the importance of proper reusable medical equipment reprocessing and its role in preventing infectious disease.
• Recognize and respond to emergent patient-care situations and intervene while awaiting assistance.
• Assist with orientation and practical experience assessment of new nursing assistants when serving as a preceptor.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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 receive a child-care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family income and other eligibility 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 may be carried into retirement.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree