Nursing Assistant - Acute Care

Nursing Assistant

This Nursing Assistant functions as a member of a nursing team assigned to a medical / surgical unit within the Omaha VA Medical Center, in Omaha, NE. The Nursing Assistant supports professional nursing staff in the care of veterans with a variety of medical, surgical, and psychiatric conditions such as advanced infections, amputations, pneumonia, joint replacement, etc. The Nursing Assistant will work primarily in their home unit, but may be required to provide support in other areas as needed.

Major duties for the Nursing Assistant include, but are not limited to :

• Assisting nursing staff with patient admissions, transfer, and discharges by inventorying and storing patients' belongings, providing patients with personal care items, and orienting patients and their families.
• Providing care for patients receiving chemotherapy and being aware of chemo precautions.
• Maintaining patient stability by checking vital signs and weight, recording intake and output, dispensing / retrieving patient care supplies, reporting abnormal vital signs to charge nurse or primary RN, and accurately documenting electronic medical record with patient care, needs, and progress.
• Understanding when results or changes in a patient's condition need to be reported to the primary RN.
• Ensuring environmental cleanliness of patient room and care areas.
• Assisting patients to complete activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs include but are not limited to : repositioning, ambulating, toileting, eating / drinking, bathing, oral care / denture care, nail care, grooming (shaving, brushing hair), skin care, changing linens and keeping patient rooms free of tripping hazards and generally tidy.
• Accompanying patients for tests / procedures.
• Performing technical tasks with appropriate training such as administering as 12-Lead Electrocardiogram test and bladder scanning.
• Being a safety attendant for patients.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Full-time, Day Shifts; 8 or 12 hours shifts. Rotating holidays and weekends required. Work is scheduled between 7 a.m. - 7 : 30 p.m.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) : Not Authorized

Pay : Competitive salary and regular salary increases

Additional Pay : Shift Differential - 10% of basic pay for work performed during regularly scheduled hours between 6pm and 6am. Weekend Premium - 25% of basic pay for work performed between the hours of midnight Friday and midnight Sunday. This includes continuous service connected to work performed during these hours. Holiday Pay - 2 times basic hourly rate for regularly scheduled, non-overtime work on a designated holiday.

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

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) : This occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Participants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program. Funding is limited; therefore, applications will be approved on a first-come basis.

Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background / security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination / evaluation.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required. Training provided.

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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Experience, Education or Training. You must meet one of the following to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA) : Six (6) 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.

Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

GS-03 - None beyond the basic requirements. NAs at this grade NAs are considered entry-level and are closely supervised.

GS-04 - To qualify at the GS-4 level you must meet the following : EXPERIENCE : One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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, EDUCATION : Successful completion of two (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, in addition you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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 residents' 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.

GS-05 - To qualify at the GS-5 level you must meet the following : 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. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients / residents receiving outpatient care, home, or community living care or other patients / residents who are receiving preventative, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. OR, EDUCATION : Successful completion of 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree that included 24 semester hours of courses related to