Rn nursing serp_jobs.h1.location_city

Summary

This position is located in the Eastern Colorado Heath Care System under Patient Care Services, GEC, Pueblo Community Living Center (PCLC). The purpose of this position is to provide a range of direct resident care in collaboration with the PCLC nursing staff. The incumbent serves as a member of the nursing team. All work is reviewed by a Registered Nurse (RN).

Duties

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Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans refers deviation to appropriate health care staff.
• Provides direct care for complex veterans.
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition, i.e. behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc. & 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.
• Monitor & documents patient intake and output reports deviations timely & accurately.
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice & according to policies & 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 & prosthetic devices, monitoring.
• Works on small group activities with veterans / residents according to the patients / resident treatment plan.
• Recognizes the residents' autonomy & promotes independence by means of respect, limit setting and individualized treatment.
• Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care, such as; lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and Veteran / Resident Wandering System.
• 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 the unit safe patient handling liaison.
• Serves as preceptor and mentor to other NA's.
• Orients members of the health care team to the units as appropriate.
• Functions as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Manages distributed patient behavior & by appropriately intervenes & request assistant from other health care members.
• Appropriately initiates basic life support, takes actions appropriate action.
• Performs & fulfills a variety of nursing care tasks in support of safe & effective patient care with the appropriate level of training. All tasks, assignments, and activities will be under the direction, guidance, and supervision of a RN.
• Assists with the rehabilitation of patients & in the prevention of deformities by correct position & assisting with activities of daily living to include ambulation. Performs range of motion activities.
• Follows ECHCS & nursing service policies & procedures for accurately documenting personal belongings and securing patients' belongings to include valuables and prosthetic devices such as dentures, hearing aids, eyes, & limbs.
• Performs bladders scans, EKGs, & collects urine, sputum, MRSA Nares or stool specimens per the RN's direction.
• Initiates cardio-pulmonary resuscitation or activates the Medical Emergency Response Team in accordance with established medical center policy for patients found unresponsive and / or not breathing.

Work Schedule : Compressed 12 hr shifts available (six 12 hr shifts and one 8 hr shift in two week pay period) night shifts available.

Compressed / Flexible : Available

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) : 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 # : 55671-A, 55672-A & 55673-A

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider :

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 :

(1) Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR ,

(2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR,

(3) 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.

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 (Entry Level)

Experiences and Education : None beyond the basic requirements.

OR,

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) : In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs :

GS-5

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.

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 :

Preferred Experience : Nursing Assistant experience working with Geriatric, Dementia, and Behavioral Health residents. Knowledgeable in providing all aspects of care / ADL to residents including the collection of vital signs, input / output, weights, feeding, providing hygiene care, use of lift equipment.

Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

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. 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 will be consistent with VA Handbook 5019.

Education

Note : Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here : If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit :

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.