Nursing Assistant - Patient Care Services

SummaryThis Nursing Assistant position is Full time (80 hours per pay period) and is organizationally aligned under Patient Care Services - working on 3N - a Med/Surg unit. S/he works at a two-divisional teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Kentucky (UK) Medical Center at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center - Lexington - Ky. Incumbent will normally work at the Bowling Campus but is required to work at the Sousley Campus as necessary.QualificationsApplicants 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 RequirementsUnited 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 experienceExperience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NAOR -] (2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupationOR - (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. English Language ProficiencyNAs must be proficient in spoken and writtenEnglish in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3jGrandfathering ProvisionsAll NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupationFor employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standardIf an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupationMay 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 candidatesGS-3 (Entry Level): Experience and EducationNone beyond the basic requirementsGS-4 (a) ExperienceOne year of specialized experience as a NA 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 treatmentsOR - (b) EducationSuccessful completion of 2 years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care - health care 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 techniciansAND (c) Demonstrated KSAsAbility 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 NurseAbility to communicate orally with patients/residents - families - interdisciplinary team and other personnelThis 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 settingAbility to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistanceFor example - recognizing need for basic life support - controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis - etcGS-5 (Full Performance Level) (a) ExperienceOne 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 assignmentIn addition - the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) belowOR - (b) EducationSuccessful 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 degreeAND (c) Demonstrated KSAsAbility 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 NurseAbility to communicate orally with patients/residents - families - interdisciplinary team and other personnelThis 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 settingAbility to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistanceFor example - recognizing need for basic life support - controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis - etcPreferred Experience: SRNA preferred - Med-Surg or long term care experience - Phlebotomy - blood glucose monitoring Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/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. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbsand over)Heavy carrying (45 lbsand over)Straight pulling (up to 8 hours)Pushing (up to 8 hours)Reaching above shouldersUse of fingersboth hands requiredwalking (up to 8 hours)standing (up to 8 hours)kneeling (2 to 3 hours)repeated bending (up to 8 hours)both legs requiredhearing (aid permitted).DutiesThe incumbent in this position is an active participant in the nursing team at the Lexington VA Health Care System and works a rotating tour of duty in an Acute Care UnitThe incumbent will build upon knowledge of basic nursing care and standardized procedures to provide service to patientsHe/she is able to perform tasks after receipt of patient data and informationThe incumbent's assignment is related to the specific needs of the area during a given tour as well as routine functions of the areaThe incumbent is primarily assigned to functions on any given tour of duty and not a specified assignment of a group of patientsHowever - an assignment of a designated group of patients or specific patient interventions may be requiredManaging equipment special to the area is requiredThe incumbent will assist the RN with patient care - obtain vital signs - obtain electrocardiograms - proper lead placement for monitoring - perform phlebotomy and do simple wound dressingsTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Pay Scale: V0F3 Work Schedule: Rotating Day Tour of Duty - 12 Hour Shifts Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increasesWhen setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experienceParental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a childChild Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 30067F - 30068F - and 30069F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized