The incumbent performs a variety of nursing care duties, ranging from routine to difficult and moderately specialized in nature, for patients receiving medical/surgical care and treatment at AVAHCS. The incumbent assists doctors and nurses in the care and treatment of patients and in the performance of diagnostic examinations. The incumbent also performs a variety of personal nursing care duties to support the patients.
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. [Experience or] Education or Training. (1) [Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR,] (2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR, (3) Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related [training] course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Creditable Experience. (1) Knowledge of Current Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice. (2) Quality of Experience. To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. (3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level). (a) Experience. One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) below; OR, (b) Education. Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree that included 24 semester hours of courses related to health care or possession of a bachelor's degree; AND (c) Demonstrated KSAs. i Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in a hospital, long-term care or outpatient setting under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse. ii Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team and other personnel. This includes serving as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting. iii Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance. For example, recognizing need for basic life support, controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis, etc. (d) Assignment. This is the full performance level for NAs. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. NAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role. NOTE: Students/trainees may be appointed in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D). See Part II, Chapter 3, paragraph 5 of VA Handbook 5005. Preferred Experience: 1. Assist in the care of patients receiving chemotherapy as assigned by the Team Lead, RN and LPN 2. Makes environmental and safety rounds, participates in Environment of Care education and rounds, ensuring prompt actions are taken if any hazardous items are noted. 3. Checks vital signs, collects specimens, and assists the professional nurse or physician with diagnostic testing. Escorts patients to lab, x-ray, or another unit. 4. Recognizes and reports behavioral changes, and changes in the patient's condition that may be related to medications or sensory distortions. Makes rounds every 15 minutes and documents rounding sheet. 5. Provides completed care on assigned patients including post-op care, according to established policies, procedures, and guidelines. 6. Treats patients with dignity as an individual with compassion and respect with reasonable protection from harm and with appropriate privacy. 7. Reports significant changes in patient's condition to the RN as soon as observed with. 8. Able to assists health team with diagnostic/therapeutic procedures and treatments. 9. Able to facilitates the admission of new patients through ward orientation, room and bed assignment and initiation of vital signs. 10. Exceptional customer service skills. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the 05. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
1. Completes ongoing requirements as stated in Atlanta VAHCS Acute Nursing Assistant (NA) (Hybrid 38) job description. 2. Maintains good communication with Nurse Manager, nursing staff, and other facility staff. Serves as a liaison between Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, and Registered Nurses. 3. Communicates and interacts appropriately and courteously with internal and external customers. 4. Functions as a NA on their assigned shift, notifies shift RN, LPN, and other NAs of changes in the nursing department, in patient conditions, in the environment of care and relays any problems to the charge nurse or Nurse Manager. 5. Demonstrates interdepartmental teamwork. 6. Maintains a working knowledge of all policies and procedures pertaining to the NA position. 7. Participates in interviewing, orientation, training, and mentoring of new NA employees. 8. Responsible for maintaining all annual TMS and skills competencies for NAs. 9. Conducts peer reviews and monitors to ensure that services are being delivered to patients properly and as prescribed. 10. Prepares and presents one topic at in-service every six (6) months. 11. Makes environmental and safety rounds, participates in Environment of Care education and rounds, ensuring prompt actions are taken if any hazardous items are noted. 12. Makes scheduled and continuous comfort and safety rounds to check on all patients. 13. Performs other duties as assigned by the Nurse Manager, charge nurse, or Team RN. 14. The NA provides personal nursing care to Acute patients and serves as an active, participating member of the interdisciplinary treatment team. The patients' nursing and treatment team needs change within a predicable range. The objectives for care are set in the treatment plan as established by the interdisciplinary treatment teams. 15. Participates in the admission of the patients by obtaining information, orienting patients to the unit and treatment team and checking patients and their belongings for hazardous items. Follows SOP in managing hazardous items and personal belongings. Safety is a number one priority. 16. Checks vital signs, collects specimens, and assists the professional nurse or physician with diagnostic testing. Escorts patients to lab, x-ray, or another unit. 17. Encourages independence in patients by instructing, guiding, and assisting patients as needed in activities of daily living. 18. Participates in interdisciplinary treatment planning by suggesting nursing actions, and reporting and documenting observations. 19. Utilizes a variety of treatment approaches including individual, re-motivation and reality orientation on a one-to-one and group interaction level. 20. Maintains a therapeutic and safe ward milieu by identifying, reporting, and eliminating environmental hazards. Environment of care assessment includes looking carefully at the entire unit (including the seclusion rooms and Sally Port) to determine if there are any safety issues that need immediate attentions and/or to determine if the unit is clean. Refi11 supplies. 21. Recognizes and reports behavioral changes, and changes in the patient's condition that may be related to medications or sensory distortions. Makes rounds every 15 minutes and documents rounding sheet. 22. Encourages patient and family to actively participate in the individualized patient centered treatment plan. 23. Demonstrates acceptable, healthy behavior as a role model for patient behavior. 24. Promotes a sense of integrity, self-worth, and dignity by acknowledging patients' acceptable behavior. 25. Encourages positive patient-family relationships. 26. Documents patients' physical and emotional status and responses to nursing interventions, using the problem orientation medical record format. DIRECT PATIENT CARE: a. Provides completed care on assigned patients including post-op care, according to established policies, procedures, and guidelines with no more than three (3) failures. OBSERVES AND REPORTS: a. Recognizes medical, surgical, and psychosocial situations such as Codes 99 and 44 and takes immediate action with no more than three (3) failures. ASSISTS PROFESSIONAL STAFF: a. Assists health team with diagnostic/therapeutic procedures and treatments with no more than four (4) failures. b. Assists with implementation of rehabilitation program (range of motion ambulation) with no more than four (4) failures. c. Facilitates the admission of new patients through ward orientation, room and bed assignment and initiation of vital signs with no more than four (4) SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The NA in this role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs, or other healthcare professionals. Work Schedule: Mon to Sun 730P - 8A shifts vary dependent on needs of unit Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 53598F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.