Nursing Assistant (Med/Surg 4 East)

The Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care System is seeking 2 Nursing Assistant (NA) in Nursing Service for their West LA Medical Surgical unit 4 East. Located in Los Angeles, CA.

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.
• Education or Training. The candidate must have one year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.
• English Language Proficiency. Nursing Assistants appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d)

Grade Determinations:

• GS-5 Experience/Education: This is the full performance level for Nursing Assistants. Nursing Assistants at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. Nursing Assistants at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role.
  • 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
  • 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 Nursing Assistants 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.

Grandfathering Provisions. All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA as of March 12, 2015 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For 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:

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.
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 reentry to the occupation.

References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard.

Physical Requirements: Work requires walking, standing, stooping, lifting, bending, pushing, turning, and at times carrying heavy loads. Must be able to utilize good body mechanics and have stamina to withstand stress.

Responsibilities:

These positions are located within Nursing Service at the Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care System. There are openings in the Emergency Department, Float Pool, Medical and Surgical and GRC Units. As a Nursing Assistant, you will function as a member of the Nursing Care Team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of Veteran patients who are in an acute, sub-acute or chronic state of illness.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Monitor vital signs and perform EKG, upper airway suctioning and routine diagnostic tests to patients, - Assist physician and nurse in the care and treatment of the ill receiving medical, surgical, psychiatric or outpatient treatment.
- Assist physician and nurse in the performance of diagnostic examinations by setting up of various types of complex medical equipment, e.g. respirators, surgical wound suction equipment, and traction, etc.
- Assist physician in a variety of diagnostic examination such as lumbar puncture, minor surgical procedures, pap smears, bone marrows, and insertion of chest tubes.
- Report the observations of the changes in patient behavior, bodily complaints and the condition of acute or chronic phase patients such as excessive vomiting, bleeding, type and amount of drainage, skin integrity and patency of airway.
- Recognize emergency situations and intervene while awaiting assistance.
- Enter specific information onto the patients' records or charts.
- Identify and report data relative to more complex patient situation including subtle changes in patients' behavior or condition.
- · Teach patient and family member the necessity to continue the procedures for proper health care and after-care instructions. Performs patient care duties, ranging from routine to moderately specialized within patient care units;
- Answers patient call signals, signal lights, bells or intercom systems to determine patients' needs;
- Collects specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum;
- Communicates with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support;
- Documents or reports observations of patient behavior, complaints or physical symptoms to nurses;
- Gathers information from caregivers, nurses or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities;
- Measures and records food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output and reports changes to medical or nursing staff;
- Observes or examines patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds or blood in urine;
- Provides physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities;
- Records patient's weight, vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pule or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff;
- Exercises patients who are comatose, paralyzed or have restricted mobility, turn or reposition bedridden patients;
- Explains medical instructions to patient and/or family members;
- Follows safe patient handling guidelines when lifting or moving patient on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables or stretchers;
- Transports specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensures proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel; and
- Participates with nurses in developing and implementing a plan of care.

Your application is not complete until you've submitted the required application, 10-2850c. Please carefully review the 'how to apply' and 'required documents' section.

Work Schedule: Full-Time,12 Hours Shifts depending on the needs of the unit. The employee in this position will rotate between day, evening, and night shifts as needed to ensure staffing coverage as well as rotating weekends and holidays as assigned.

Salary : $43,646 - $56,746