Nursing Assistant - Community Living Center

Veterans Health Administration • Castle Point, NY

6h • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant works in a Long Term Care Unit at the Montrose or Castle Point Campus as part of the Community Living Center (CLC) Nursing Service. The role primarily performs assignments in a 24/7 care setting and may work outside the CLC as needed. The Nursing Assistant provides care to residents with a range of needs, including preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, hospice, and rehabilitative care, while assisting licensed nursing staff. The position may also include peer education and mentorship responsibilities.

This is an open and continuous announcement for current vacancies. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and qualified applicants may be referred as vacancies become available. The position requires rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays, to meet operational needs. Day, evening, and night variable shifts are available and discussed at interview. The full performance level is GS-5; selection may be at GS-3 through GS-5.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet one of the basic qualification pathways: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire nursing assistant knowledge and skills; one year above high school with courses related to the occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of less than one year resulting in nursing assistant certification. A VA grandfathering provision may apply to qualifying current VHA employees.
• For GS-4 qualification, either one year of specialized nursing assistant or related medical-field experience performing technical and nursing skills, or two years of relevant post-high-school education, plus the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities in resident care, observation and reporting, use of basic diagnostic and treatment equipment, and communication.
• For GS-5 qualification, either one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 demonstrating relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities, or a bachelor's degree (or four years of post-high-school study including 24 semester hours of health care-related courses), plus the specified abilities in nursing care, communication and precepting, and recognizing and responding to emergencies.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Meet background and security investigation requirements, complete online onboarding, and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Register for Selective Service if a male born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Meet the position's physical and sensory demands, including lifting, prolonged standing and sitting, frequent bending and walking, climbing, reaching, pulling, pushing, repetitive motion, and stooping; hearing, speaking, writing, keyboarding, reading, reasoning, problem-solving, and other listed sensory and cognitive capabilities.

Nice To Haves

• At least one year of current Certified Nursing Assistant experience.
• Two to three years of Nursing Assistant experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care to complex veterans and meet residents' needs for hygiene, comfort, activity, exercise, rest, nutrition, elimination, skin-breakdown prevention, and rehabilitation.
• Observe changes in residents' behavior, mood, skin color, appetite, and other aspects of their condition, and act within the assigned role.
• Document care, observations, and resident responses using appropriate forms and the Electronic Health Record.
• Report changes in residents' conditions to appropriate nursing personnel; monitor and document intake and output and report deviations promptly and accurately.
• Conduct observation checks and intentional hourly rounding, including one-to-one suicide observation, continuous observation, and 15-minute checks as assigned.
• Monitor residents at risk of harming themselves or others according to policy and refer concerns to the charge nurse or another health care professional.
• Perform nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures.
• Facilitate small-group activities in accordance with residents' treatment plans and assist with resident and family education, including orientation to unit routines and policies.
• Promote residents' autonomy and independence through respectful, individualized care and appropriate limit setting.
• Use equipment to support resident self-care, including lift equipment and the Veteran/Resident Wandering System.
• Provide resident information to the treatment team and participate in treatment-team meetings and care planning.
• Remove defective equipment, report hazards, follow safety regulations, contribute to infection control, and use proper aseptic technique.
• May serve as the unit safe patient handling liaison and orient health care team members to the CLC as appropriate.
• Perform restorative nursing care as assigned.
• Manage disruptive resident behavior, intervene appropriately, and request assistance from other health care team members as needed.
• Initiate basic life support and take appropriate action when directed during emergencies.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for prior work or military service experience if requested and approved before appointment; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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