Summary

The Rehabilitation Nursing Service Nursing Assistant (NA) is a key member of the nursing and rehabilitation treatment team at VA Palo Alto Healthcare System. The NA provides essential basic patient care that supports patients' activities of daily living - hygiene - nutrition and mobility. The NA also assists in observing and monitoring stable post-operative patients and complex medical patients.

Qualifications

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
• English Language: Nursing Assistants must be proficient in both spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Experience or Education or Training: Six months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nursing Assistant
• OR - One year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation
• OR - Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related [training]course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA and 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level): Experience or Education or Training
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 Nursing Assistant: Experience
• One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant or experience in another medical field (licensed practical nurse - health technician - hospital corpsman - etc.) - performing technical and nursing skills requiring knowledge of the human physical and emotional states - therapeutic communication - and technical skills required for basic and intermediate treatments
• OR - Education
• Successful completion of 2 years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care - healthcare or in a field of study appropriate to the specialization of the position - such as education in a program for psychology - psychiatric - or operating room technicians
• AND - Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents
• Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner
• Ability to properly use equipment - materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures such as bladder scan - continuous passive motion device - blood glucose monitoring machine - specimen collection - etc
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents - their families and other health professionals
• GS-5 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level): 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 - 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 - Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• 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
• 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/81 - Part II - Appendix G46.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - pulling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Duties

• In this role - you will perform a wide variety of nursing care duties - ranging from routine to moderately specialized - within our rehabilitation units serving Polytrauma - Comprehensive Rehabilitation - Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder - and Western Blind Rehabilitation
• Major Duties include - but may not be limited to: Obtaining and documenting vital signs - including temperature - pulse - respirations - and blood pressure and pain level (and notifying the professional nurse when these values are outside of established parameters)
• Bathing - grooming - toileting - dressing and undressing
• Feeding and assisting with fluid and nutritional intake - including following dietary and fluid guidelines and aspiration precautions
• Perform oral suctioning (with yankauer only)
• Mobility assistance including ambulation - transfers - positioning - range of motion - and positioning precautions
• Lifts - moves and transports clients - using proper body mechanics or lifting devices
• Performs all job responsibilities in accordance with prescribed safety and infection control procedures including thorough hand washing - use of disposable gloves where indicated - and proper disposal of soiled materials
• Observing urine color and smell and documenting input and output
• Observes and documents bowel movements - assist with bowel care (positioning in bed - commode - toilet - check rectal vault - perform digital stimulation or manual evacuation - assist as needed with perineal hygiene)
• Applying external catheters and maintaining and cleaning urinary drainage bags - perform bladder scans (and obtain/record post void residual-PVR)
• Work Schedule: 1930-0800 - with rotating weekends and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required