• Job Description

  Req#: 837068700
  The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, MO is currently accepting applications for full-time permanent Nursing Assistant for our Community Living Center (CLC) Unit. Our facility is a Level-3 Complexity medical center comprised of a 38-bed CLC and 10 acute medicine beds.
  
  Duties
  
  
  The incumbent will be assigned to the Community Living Center unit caring for adult and geriatric patients. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 facility. The incumbent may be required to rotate tours and duties during low/high census or complete administrative tasks established by the immediate supervisor. Not all duties may be listed, so other duties may be assigned. He/she is responsible to ensure the highest possible quality of care is achieved and that a safe therapeutic environment is provided. The incumbent provides care that is in accordance with established standards, hospital policies and procedures. The incumbent communicates with patients, family members, internal and external co-workers and customers in a courteous, tactful, helpful, and understanding manner.
  
  The Nursing Assistant role involves personal care duties such as bathing, dressing, shaving and feeding patients, as well as oral care and other personal hygiene activities. The Nursing Assistant also assists patients ambulating in and out of bed which may require the use of lifting equipment and /or assist devices. All Nursing Assistants work under the supervision of a Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse to whom they are responsible for reporting any issues or changes involving the patient and/or his/her care.
  
  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 a weight of 35 pounds in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Program Directive 2010-032.
  
  Responsible for ensuring his/her actions contribute to a mode of continued accreditation readiness regarding Long Term Care Institute (LTCI), Joint Commission, and other survey teams. Can articulate standards of care and practice, policies and procedures/SOPs; documentation is complete and timely.
  
  Work Schedule: 6:00am-6:30pm days/nights (rotating shifts)
  Telework: Not Available
  Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
  Functional Statement #: 000000
  Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
  Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
  
  
  Requirements
  
  
  
  
  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. NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
  • Experience/Education/Training. For this position you may qualify through education, experience or a training:
    • Experience. Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nurse Assistant; OR,
    • Education. One year of education above high school with courses related to the Nurse Assistant occupation; OR,
    • Training. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one year as a Nurse Assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.
  • Grandfathering Provisions. All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard 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:
    • 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. FORMER VA HANDBOOK 5005 REFERENCE: Part II Appendix G46 EFFECTIVE DATE: May 22, 2024
    • 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 re-entry to the occupation.
  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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
  • GS-3 Nurse Assistant (Entry Level)
    • Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
    • Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 Nurse Assistants are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.
  • GS-4 Nurse Assistant
    • Experience. One year of specialized experience as a NA or experience 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 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
    • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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.
    • Assignment.
      • Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team 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 significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs or other health care professionals.
      • In this role, the NA functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care, or other patients who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness.
  • GS-5 Nurse Assistant (Full Performance Level)
    • 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).
      • 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.
    • Assignment.
      • This is the full performance level for NAs. NAs 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.
  Preferred Experience: Active Certified Nursing Assistant Certification, long term care/Nursing home, good work ethic, and hospital experience is a plus.
  
  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 in the range of GS-3 to GS-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. These physical requirements will be consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019.

• About the company

  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with integrating life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 1700 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country.

Notice