Summary

The Nursing Assistant (NA) functions as a member of the Clinical Command Center Transport/Escort Team (CCC Transport/Escort Team) and assists higher graded Nursing Assistants - licensed nursing staff - and other members of the care team throughout the health care facility with patient transport. The CCC Transport/Escort Team is responsible for transporting patients/residents receiving outpatient - home - CLC - acute - sub-acute - or chronic states of illness care safely and in a timely manner.

Qualifications

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
• [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: Nursing Assistants 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-5 NURSING ASSISTANT (NA): (a) EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) 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
• *Transcript Required* 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
• Preferred Experience: Approximately 2-3 years of NA experience equivalent to the GS-5 level which demonstrates knowledge - skills - and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment
• Must be flexible - versatile - reliable - and a team player
• Outstanding patient and customer service skills and bedside manner
• Excellent communication skills
• Practice safe lifting techniques - and assist patients in and out of beds - stretchers - and wheelchairs
• Ability to work flexible tours to include weekends and holidays to accommodate patients/residents needs
• References: VA Handbook 5005/81 - Part II - Appendix - G46 - Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard - dated 03/12/2015
• 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-05.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities may include - but are not limited to: The incumbent must be able to perform with skill and effectiveness all duties associated with nursing assistant work under the supervision of the Registered or Licensed Practical Nurse
• The NA Escort is responsible for transporting patients throughout the facility for scheduled appointments - admissions - discharges - and transfers
• The NA Escort is responsible for transporting of beds/mattresses/pumps to and from units to assist with care coordination throughout the facility
• The NA Escort is responsible for the transportation of specimens - patients - residents - equipment - and supplies such as wheelchairs - stretchers - beds - and oxygen tanks - etc
• in the outpatient and inpatient care units
• The NA Escort transports patients who do not require a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to transport because of their acuity category
• The NA Escort will assist the RN - physician - or other qualified medical personnel in the transport of acute patients
• Escort NAs may assist Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nursing/medical staff with patient transport but will not transport this category of patient without the above staff
• Escort NAs may provide assistance to psychiatric nursing or medical staff with patient transport
• With specialized training - escort NAs may transport low acuity psychiatric patients without assistance - always remaining 1:1 with patient at all times
• The NA Escort provides for the care of patients/residents with dignity and continuous consideration of the individuals emotional needs
• The NA Escort maintains patient/resident safety standards - assuring patient/resident privacy - patient/resident physical safety - and patient/resident psychological safety
• The Escort NA establishes working relationships with multi-disciplinary and multi-level members of the work team promoting the physical - psychological - and emotional safety of the working environment for all team members
• The Escort NA demonstrates the knowledge and skills to provide care and services consistent with Infection Control Standards of Practice providing optimal outcomes for patients - residents - visitors - and employees identified by regulating agencies - the RICVAMC - VISN and National Agencies
• The NA Escort recognizes - responds - and initiates appropriate level response to medical emergency such as cardiac and respiratory failure
• The NA Escort has the 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
• NA Escort may perform these duties in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient - inpatient - or community living care - acute - subacute areas
• The NA Escort maintains the bed stacker - bed stacker report - and assists with fax streem - etc
• Measuring vital signs (to include temperature - pulse - respiration - pulse oximetry - blood pressure - wound care - transfers - weights - and pain measurement)
• Proficient with chart documentation - direct patient care duties - patient and family teaching - and patient safety duties
• Performs a wide variety of duties aimed at increasing the comfort - spirit - and recovery of the patient
• Records treatments and observations in the electronic patient record
• Recognizes and reports to the RN or provider any significant physical - emotional - or behavioral changes in the patient
• Ensures proper specimen collection to include labeling according to policy - handling - and delivery to the laboratory
• Transports patients and specimens to required destinations and prepares for and assists with examinations - diagnostic and therapeutic tests according to written procedures and policies
• Assists with therapeutic treatment techniques to include conducting groups - 1:1 observation - the proper use of restraints - aseptic and deescalating techniques
• Enter information into the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS)
• Documents vital signs - treatments - procedures - and cardiac rhythm interpretations performed in CPRS
• Practices excellent customer service in all work activities
• poised and articulate in communicating with people of varied educational - ethnic - and cultural backgrounds
• Maintains a positive therapeutic relationship by displaying respect for human dignity with the health care team - patients - families and or significant others utilizing learned communication skills
• Work Schedule: Mon to Fri - 7:30am to 4pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required