Nursing Assistant at Minneapolis

JOB SUMMARY:

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 919231 (include on all documents)

VA MISSION:To fulfill President Lincolns promise – "To care for him who shall haveborne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving andhonoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans.

How would you like to become a partof a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

Nursing Assistants serve as a member of the nursing team ona medical or surgical ward/unit and provide care to patients under thedirection of a Registered Nurse. You will be an integral member of a teamdevoted to providing the best possible care to our nation’s veterans andhelping the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and the Veterans IntegratedService Network (VISN) 23 meet its mission.

This announcement is for positions in our Extended Care and Rehabilitation PatientService Line. Positions are available for both full-time and part-time and will rotate through days/evenings or days/nights. During the application process, applicants are asked to indicate their preference of full-time, part-time, or either, as well as if they would like to be considered for positions that rotate days/evenings, days/nights, or both.

PLEASE NOTE: REQUIREDFORMS FOR APPLICATION TO THIS VACANCY ARE CONTAINED IN THE “REQUIRED DOCUMENTS”SECTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

 

At a minimum, you must include a resume or CV, and VA Form10-2850c; other documents may be required depending on your individualcircumstances.

 

Asa VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in themultiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at yourfingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advancedintegrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many otherservices to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and NationalCemeteries.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. Thehealth related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered bythe Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

 

RelocationExpenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.

Recruitment/RelocationIncentives: Recruitment/relocation Incentives are not authorized for thisposition.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• U. S. Citizenship
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination
• English Language Proficiency required
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

DUTIES:Back to top

Theduties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Patientcare:

Adheres to VA and nursing policies,procedures, and standards while assisting with selected activities related topatient admission/transfer and discharge; participates in selected continuousimprovement (CI) activities as directed; collects patient information includingobservation of overall condition and recognizes and reports obvious changes inpatient condition including emergencies; participates in the interdisciplinaryteam care planning and delivery of care process by providing feedback to the RNand interdisciplinary team; supports the health care team through thereinforcement of patient education; takes appropriate actions in response topatient emergent situations.

Accurately documents patient information inthe medical record or paper flow sheet as appropriate; administers respiratorytherapies: turn, cough and deep breathe; applies heat and cold therapies;assists with toileting activities, as appropriate; assists patient withdressing skills; monitors patients in the dining room.

Related to stages of adult development:

Describes relationship of developmentalstages to provision of nursing care; identifies personal care needs ofindividuals based upon the individuals age/stage of development; providesinput to the accountable RN related to patients stage of adult development;provides care to patients in a variety of stages of adult development.

Safelyperforms the following functions:

Providesroutine hygienic/activities of daily living care; performs actions targeted tothe maintenance/restoration of skin integrity; collects patient specimens;administers a variety of comfort measures; performs CPR/BCLS; takes vital signsafter completion of orientation and competency validation; follows seizureprecautions as directed; transports patients with O2; appropriately usesprotective/restraining devices; feeds patients orally who are not at risk foraspiration; uses therapeutic cushions appropriately; applies and providesroutine care for a condom catheter; promotes skin healing through the applicationof noncomplex (i.e., band aids or dry gauze) dressing changes and theapplication of ostomy appliances as delegated by the accountable RN.

Offersphysiological, psychological and spiritual comfort to the dying patient;correctly uses specialized wheelchairs and the correct application of slings,splints and braces; performs finger stick blood glucose using the blood glucosemonitor; ambulates patient with/without assistive devices and provides passiverange of motion as directed by the RN; provides care for patients in HALOjacket; performs use of oximetry as directed; recognizes safety risks relatedto dementia; monitors gastric/intestinal drainage and feeding tubes; correctlyperforms oral suctioning with Yankauer suction device; monitors tracheotomy secretionsand removes external secretions.

Implementssitz bath; monitors continuous bladder irrigations; observes chest tubes;provides cast care/CMS; assists the nurse in the application of traction andsupportive devices; demonstrates correct use of ace wrap and prostheticapplication; recognizes communication barriers related to sensory deficits,i.e.: hearing aid/s, vision loss as well as stage of disease, i.e.: stroke, endof life; correctly uses assistive devices for eating, including: non-skid mats,eating utensils and plate guards; promotes correct use of ambulation devicesincluding walker (regular and with wheels), 3 point cane, crutches, Hemi-Walkerand cane; administers established enteral feedings and checks for residual.

Usesthe following equipment: tub, scale and in-bed scale, special care beds, Gerichair and vital signs monitor/equipment; reports situations, including changesin behavior, wandering, sun downing, sleep disturbances, inappropriate sexualbehavior, aggressive behavior, hallucinations (visual/auditory), incontinence,and swallowing problems.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

IndividualOccupational Requirements in conjunction with the Group Coverage Qualification Standards for Technical andMedical Support Positions for this series.

Experience: 1 year specializedexperience equivalent to at least GS-4 level work.

Specialized Experience – Qualifyingspecialized experience includes nonprofessional nursing care work in ahospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other medical, nursing, orpatient care facility, or in such work as that of a home health aid performingduties such as:

· Providing personal nursing care such as providingpre- and post-operative care.

· Support duties for diagnostic and technicaltreatment procedures, such as setting up and operating special medicalequipment and apparatus.

· Caring for mentally ill patients, includingobserving, recording, and reporting changes in their behavior, and providingreassurance and encouragement.

· Assisting surgeons and registered nurses inoperating room activities, including passing instruments, maintaining sterileconditions, and draping and positioning patients.

OR

Education: 4 year course of study above high school leading toa bachelors degree with courses related to the occupation. Transcriptsrequired.

Training: Completion ofappropriate training such as in-service training programs, training acquiredwhile serving in the Armed Forces, and government-sponsored developmentaltraining programs will be allowed credit on a month-for-month basis. Suchtraining meets specialized experience requirements depending upon itsapplicability.

OR

Combinationof Experience and Education: Equivalent combinations of successfully completedpost-high school education and experience are also qualifying. Education usedto meet specialized experience requirements must include courses directlyrelated to the work of the position. Only education in excess of the first 60semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelors degree iscreditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two fullacademic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year isequivalent to l year of specialized experience. Transcripts required.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

References: OPM Individual Qualification Standard for Nursing Assistant Series at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/GS0600/0621.htm.

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE:  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.)  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Veterans Preference:

When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference.  For more information on Veterans Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.

Country: USA, State: Minnesota, City: Minneapolis, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.