Summary

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System is hiring for (2) Nursing Assistant positions.

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:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• 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 NA
• OR - One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR - 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 Proficiency: NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Grade Determinations: GS-3 Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 Experience
• One 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 treatments
• OR - Education
• Successful 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 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 (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 listed 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 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
• 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. Preferred Experience: ER experience is preferred - but not required
• The selecting official will consider all minimally qualified applicants.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Nursing Assistant (NA) is learning to perform basic nursing duties under close supervision in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient - inpatient - home or community living care - acute - sub-acute
• The NA will care for patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions.Other duties include - but are not limited to: Will learn to appropriately utilize glucose monitoring machine to collect and document appropriate glucose readings for assigned Veterans
• Maintains a positive therapeutic relationship by displaying respect for human dignity with patients - families and/or significant others utilizing learned communication skills
• Utilizes observation skills for data collection - reporting and recording patient/resident observations
• Performs aspects of nursing care to meet patient's needs for the following under close supervision and with direction/guidance from a preceptor: Personal Hygiene - Physical comfort - Activity - Exercise - Rest - Nutrition - Elimination - Prevention of Skin Breakdown - Rehabilitative Aspects of Care Safely and accurately perform personal care skills - including measuring and recording vital signs to include temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure and measuring of height and weight
• Measures and records intake and output of Veteran - feeding techniques - non-sterile specimen collection - transfer - positioning - and turning techniques
• Self-directed in seeking out RN - Lead Nurse - or Change Nurse to report Veteran-related information
• Collects Veteran data - participates in care planning - performs approved skills per order or by protocol in accordance with care planning
• Promotes independence of Veteran by means of respect - limit setting - and individualized treatment
• Initiate basic life support and promptly recognize/respond to emergent situations
• Monitor Veterans per levels of observation - acuity levels and assignment sheet
• Offers supportive nursing care to critically or terminally ill Veterans
• Provides emotional support to Veteran and/or family and significant other
• Receptive to constructive feedback and self-directed in improving performance and interpersonal skills to enhance professional development
• Participates in unit based educational activities and continuing education opportunities to increase clinical and professional knowledge
• Completes orientation - unit-based services - and mandatory educational activities in a self-directed manner by established timeframes
• Identifies own deficits in skills and knowledge and acts to correct performance
• Attend daily huddle and team meetings as per area
• Work Schedule: 730pm-8:00am shift
• Alternating schedule weekend and holidays Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When 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 experience
• Parental 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 child
• Child 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 $416.66
• Retirement: 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) Functional Statement: PD55018A - PD55019A - and PD55020A