Nursing Assistant-Community Living Center

SummaryThis Nursing Assistant position is Full time (80 hours per pay period) and is organizationally aligned under Patient Care Services - working in the Community Living Center. 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) Health Care system - Lexington - Ky. Incumbent will normally work at the Franklin Sousley Campus.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 RequirementsCitizenshipCitizen of the United States(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) [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 NA];OR - (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: aCreditable Experience(1) Knowledge of Current PracticeTo be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with the current practice(2) Quality of ExperienceTo 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 ExperiencePart-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweekFor 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(1) GS-3 NA (Entry Level) (a) Experience and EducationNone beyond the basic requirements(b) AssignmentsIndividuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised(2) GS-4 NA (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 - 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 techniciansAND (c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residentsii Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manneriii 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 - etciv Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents - their families and other health professionals(3) GS-5 NA (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 KSAsi 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 Nurseii Ability 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 settingiii Ability 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 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-05The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 for requirementsThe pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment to determine the physical and mental fitness for candidates for appointment in VAThe examination will be concerned with the mental and physical ability of the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and will include requisite laboratory and other screening as required by Federal regulatory agenciesThis position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterityThis position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushingThis position requires that you are able to lift at least 50 lbsTransferring patients and objects may be requiredThe incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive proceduresThe incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disordersThe incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on organizational needsMust complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual Influenza vaccination - TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.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 the Community Living CenterThe 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 Work Schedule: Days/Nights 12 hours with rotation to other shifts as needed 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 - 30069F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized SSR: V0F3