Nursing Assistants (Mental Health, Med-Surg, Long-Term Care and UCC/ED Units) - Full-time

Summary Project Legacy Statement Residents of Greater New Orleans enjoy one of the highest qualities of life in the United States. While we are known to enjoy many of the best restaurants in the world, more than 300 festivals, vibrant nightlife, not to mention Mardi Gras, that's just the beginning of what we have to offer. We treasure family and community, our children have access to high-quality education, we enjoy an incredible abundance of the arts, and so much more! Here at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, we strive to be an efficient organization through continual process improvement and orderliness by eliminating waste in everything we do. We are generating a Lean environment of abundance and ownership, enabling us to become "one team creating the perfect patient experience" so that we may honor Veterans and their families. We're in the process of constructing and activating a new medical center that will serve as a model for health care of the future and set the standards for patient-centered care, flexibility and sustainability. It will be a level one, 200 bed tertiary care regional referral center that is projected to serve 70,000 enrolled Veterans. The new medical center will be approximately 1.6 million square feet, with two additional 1,000-car garages for both patients and staff on a 30-acre site in New Orleans. The facility has been designed to meet the full array of VA missions: health care to America's heroes, education, research and national preparedness. It will authentically reflect the culture of the region and be the cornerstone for the emerging biosciences industry in New Orleans. You can help us build from the ground up. Create history with us and join our team! For more information about the greater New Orleans area, visit http://www.destinationgno.com/ To learn more about Project Legacy, the project to design and build a new medical center to replace the one damaged from Hurricane Katrina, visit http://www.neworleans.va.gov/Project_Legacy.asp Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VANewOrleans Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VANewOrleans Learn more about this agency Responsibilities Asa Nursing Assistant (NA), depending on your assigned unit, you must maintain knowledge of a wide variety of rules and procedures requiring training and experience in order to carry out the duties to provide basic care to Veterans in an emergent, critical and acute situation. Your duties may include, but not exclusive to the following: Performing vital signs, intake and output, EKG's, Point-of Care (POC) testing, phlebotomy and collection and delivery of specimens according to protocol, as appropriate;Assisting patients in and out of vehicles, wheelchairs, stretchers, etc., in a safe and efficient manner; and will transport unmonitored patients to procedures and/or to inpatient wards after admission to hospital;Providing 1:1 observation or constant observation while monitoring status designated patients awaiting transport to Mental Health Service or to acute inpatient;Providing personal care such as bathing, shaving, mouth care, nail care and shampoo;Ambulating patients with or without assistive devices;Caring for patients on special frames/beds or with prosthetic devices;Feeding patients/resident and administers tube feedings;Providing for bowel/bladder elimination needs;Maintaining skin integrity by following guidelines for skin care, including turning, positioning, use of skin protectives, and pressure ulcer care; Maintaining privacy and confidentiality when providing patient care; andRecognizing emergency events or changes in patient condition requiring RN notification. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday andWeekends (as patient care dictates), Days/Nights/Evenings (8 Hour Shifts) Functional Statement Title: Nursing Assistant (Functional Statement is available for review in the Human Resources Office) This is a Bargaining Unit position. Travel Required Not required Supervisory status No Conditions of Employment Must pass pre-employment examination Must be proficient in written and spoken English Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required Background and-or Security Investigation required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Requirements:See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Qualifications Basic Requirements: U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.Education: One year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation.Physical Standards: Must meet the physical standard in VA Directive and Handbook 5019.English Language Proficiency: Nursing Assistantsmust be proficient in both spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A Paragraph 3. Experience/Education: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignment 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 knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) below; or successfully completion of a four-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: Demonstrated KSAs: 1. 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. 2. 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. 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. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. References: See VA Handbook 5005 , Part II, Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualification Standards.This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. Additional information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, rsum and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. NOTE: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments. For internal selectees being promoted, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy. NOLA.com. Keywords: Nursing Assistant, Location: New Orleans, LA - 70116