Summary

Nursing Assistant Telemetry is a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive - acute - sub-acute chronic - maintenance - and hospice care.

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
• Education or Training
• 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. Physical Requirements
• Heavy lifting (45 lbs
• and over)
• Heavy carrying (45 lbs
• and over)
• Straight pulling (up to 8 hours)
• Pushing (up to 8 hours)
• Reaching above shoulders
• Use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking (up to 8 hours)
• standing (up to 8 hours)
• kneeling (2 to 3 hours)
• repeated bending (up to 8 hours)
• both legs required
• hearing (aid permitted)
• English Language Proficiency: 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-3 No specialized experience beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant or experience in another medical field - 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 - 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
• In addition to the above - applicant must demonstrate the following
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 1 Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patient/residents
• 2 Ability to observe patients/residents physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner
• 3 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
• 4 Ability to communicate effectively with patient / residents - their families and other health professionals
• GS- 5 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 assignments -OR- 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
• In addition the above - applicant must demonstrate the following
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 1 Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patient/resident 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 2 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
• 3 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
• Preferred Experience: Telesitter and Telemetry experience 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-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-3/4/5
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or 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 - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• The NA must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• These physical requirements are consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The Nurse Assistant assigned to Telemetry/ /Avasure Telesitter successfully completes duties at the lower grades - and in this position performs activities of daily living and provides a range of care that contributes to the Veteran's treatment plan - recovery - and wellness under the direction of a licensed health care provider
• The NA may perform these duties in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient - inpatient - home or Community Living Center (CLC) - acute - sub-acute
• The NA will care for patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions
• The NA must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills - and abilities: 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 NA utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for Veterans and refers deviation to appropriate health care staff
• Provides direct care for complex Veterans
• Make 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 personal
• Administers complete tracheostomy care - including suctioning
• Monitors 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 but not limited to enemas - catheterization - colostomy care - skin care simple dressing - application of braces and prosthetic devices
• Works on small group activities with patients/residents according to the patients/resident treatment plan
• Recognizes the residents' autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect - limit setting and individualized treatment
• Actively participates in Treatment Planning Meetings
• Utilizes equipment to promote self-care
• Verbally provides patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran/residents' plan of care - participates in treatment team meetings for resident care planning
• Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart - utilizing appropriate formats
• Participates in maintaining a clean - safe environment for the patient/resident
• Removes defective equipment - reports hazards - observes safety regulations - contributes to infection control - and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties
• Serves as preceptor and mentor to other NAs
• Manages distributed patient behavior and intervenes and requests assistant from other health care members
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 7:30pm- 8:00am NIGHT SHIFT with Rotating Weekends Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 61640F
• 61641F;61642F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Pay Scale: V0SO and 001M