Anesthesia Assistant Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the basic qualification requirement through one of the following: six months of general experience demonstrating the ability to acquire nursing assistant knowledge and skills; one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related nursing assistant course of study lasting less than one year.
• For GS-4, either one year of specialized nursing assistant experience or relevant experience in another medical field, or two years of post-high-school education in a related field; the applicable pathway also requires the stated patient-care knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-5, either one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 that demonstrates relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities, or 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; candidates must also demonstrate the stated professional KSAs.
• Ability to provide a range of patient or resident care and contribute to nursing care plans and recovery.
• Ability to observe physical or emotional status and promptly refer deviations or problems to a supervisor.
• Ability to use equipment, materials, and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients or residents, families, and health professionals.
• At 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; support and assess new nursing assistants’ practical orientation; and recognize and respond to emergent care situations while awaiting assistance.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and applicable background/security investigation and drug screening.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete all application and onboarding requirements, including acceptable identity documentation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the conditions described in the announcement.

Responsibilities

• Use glucose monitoring machines to obtain Veterans’ glucose readings and refer deviations to appropriate health care staff.
• Provide direct care for complex Veterans and document care provided.
• Recognize subtle changes in patients’ conditions and contact appropriate nursing personnel.
• Monitor and document patient intake and output, reporting deviations accurately and promptly.
• Perform procedures within scope of practice and in accordance with policies and standard procedures, including enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressings, and applying braces and prosthetic devices.
• Work with patients or residents on small-group activities according to their treatment plans.
• Respect residents’ autonomy and promote independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Participate actively in treatment-planning meetings.
• Use equipment to promote self-care.
• Verbally provide patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the Veteran’s plan of care.
• Enter information about the Veteran’s condition in the chart using appropriate formats.
• Help maintain a clean and safe patient environment; remove defective equipment, report hazards, follow safety regulations, contribute to infection control, and use proper aseptic technique.
• Serve as a preceptor and mentor to other nursing assistants and orient health care team members to the unit as appropriate.
• Manage and intervene in patient behavior, requesting assistance from other health care team members when needed.
• Initiate basic life support and take appropriate action in emergent situations.
• Complete mandatory training within required timelines and participate in annual competency assessment and validation.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families.
• Selected applicants may request consideration for annual leave accrual credit based on prior work or military service; approval is not guaranteed.