Summary

**This announcement is for several vacancies throughout the Acute Care Service.** We are seeking compassionate Nursing Assistants (NAs) to join our nursing care team. Selected candidates will be placed in various acute care sections - assisting licensed nursing staff with diverse patient care needs - including preventive - acute - sub-acute - chronic - maintenance - and hospice care. If you're dedicated to making a difference in patient care - we invite you to apply and join our healthcare team.

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
• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• 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
• 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)
• (1) 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 standard
• FORMER VA HANDBOOK 5005 REFERENCE: Part II Appendix G46 EFFECTIVE DATE: May 22 - 2024 2 (2) If 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 occupation Grade Determinations: Experience Requirement: GS-03 Nursing Assistant: For GS-03 Entry Level consideration: None beyond the basic requirements
• Experience Requirement: GS-04 Nursing Assistant: (A) 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 - (B) 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 (C) 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
• Experience Requirement: GS-05 Nursing Assistant: (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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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-05.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-03 to GS-05
• Preferred Experience: Nursing Assistant certification 2 Years experience in Mental Health Basic Life Support (BLS) certification References: FORMER VA HANDBOOK 5005 REFERENCE: Part II Appendix G46 EFFECTIVE DATE: May 22 - 2024 Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Handbook 5019 - Part II - Paragraph 3 - II-1 - 1(a) - A pre-placement physical examination to determine the physical - cognitive and emotional fitness of candidates for appointment in VA is required - and shall be completed prior to appointment - for all full-time individuals appointed under 38 U.S.C. - Chapter 73 - for Title 38 positions
• That the incumbent must obtain and maintain level 3 Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) while in the position
• The population of male and female patients served ranges from the adult - age 18 - to the elderly adult - age 65 and over
• Fayetteville NC VA Coastal Health Care System is a tertiary health care facility - providing acute medical - surgical - behavioral health - physical medicine and rehabilitation - geriatric - and primary care services predominately to veterans - but in special cases - includes active-duty military and civilian populations
• This position requires the following physical functional requirement: Moderate lifting - 15-35 pounds
• Light lifting - under 15 pounds
• Moderate carrying -15-35 pounds
• Light carrying - under 15 pounds
• Straight pulling - 1 hour
• Pushing - 1-3 hours
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Walking - 4 hours
• Standing - 2-7 hours
• Kneeling - 2 hours
• Repeated bending - 2 hours
• Climbing
• use of legs and arms
• Both legs required
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Visual acuity: 20/40 DVA
• corrected
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Hearing aid (permitted)
• Sitting - 8 hours
• Simple grasping - 2-4 hours
• Fine manipulation - including keyboarding - 4-6 hours
• Twisting - 2 hours
• Mental and emotional stability
• In addition - the incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or during patient operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - and be able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf The Nursing Assistant (NA) plays a vital role in supporting licensed nursing staff by providing comprehensive care to patients and residents in various settings - including outpatient - inpatient - home - and community living care
• NAs manage a range of complex nursing needs and are involved in mentoring and peer education
• Candidates are required to have one year of education beyond high school with relevant coursework or completion of a specialized nursing assistant training program
• U.S. citizenship and proficiency in spoken and written English are necessary
• Additionally - candidates should demonstrate the ability to assist in nursing care under the supervision of registered or licensed vocational nurses - effectively communicate with patients and interdisciplinary teams - and respond appropriately to emergent care situations
• Assigned duties functions include: Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to obtain glucose readings for veterans and refers abnormal results to appropriate health care staff
• Provides direct care for complex veterans
• Perform phlebotomy to collect blood samples as ordered
• Collect stool and urine samples as ordered
• Perform point of care test urine pregnancy
• Perform electrocardiogram (EKG) for patients with chest pain and other indications as instructed by Registered Nurse (RN)
• Perform inventory of belongings and continuous 1:1 observation for safety of mental health patients
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition - i.e
• behavior shifts - mood - skin coloring - appetite - etc
• and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role
• Documents care given - observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms
• Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personnel
• Administers complete tracheostomy care - including suctioning
• Monitor and documents patient intake and output reports deviations timely and accurately
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran for such procedures including but not limited to enemas - colostomy care - skin care simple dressing - application of braces and prosthetic devices
• Participates in maintaining a clean - safe environment for the patient
• Removes defective equipment - reports hazards - observes safety regulations - contributes to infection control - and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties
• Serves as the unit safe patient handling liaison
• Serves as preceptor and mentor to other NA's
• Orients members of the health care team to the units as appropriate
• Functions as a member of the unit base counsel
• Manages distributed patient behavior and by appropriately intervenes and request assistant from other health care members
• Ensure compliance with fit testing
• Appropriately initiates basic life support - takes actions appropriate action
• Obtain vital signs and report abnormal vital signs to primary nurse of the patient
• Transport patients to and from the Emergency Department (ED) to designated areas per nursing orders Work Schedule: Various - will be discussed during interview Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized