Nursing Assistant - Patient Care Service

Nursing Assistant Position at LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center

The LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center is seeking a full-time nursing assistant at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center within the patient care service. The nursing assistant will function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher grade nursing assistants and licensed nursing staff in the care of patients. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Adhering to VA and nursing policies, procedures, and standards.
• Delivering care to patients in a respectful, non-judgmental manner.
• Maintaining patient privacy/confidentiality and patient rights to privacy/confidentiality.
• Setting limits within the nursing assistant/patient relationship, which are clearly defined.
• Participating in selected performance improvement (PI) activities as directed.
• Assisting with selected activities related to patient admission/transfer and discharge.
• Collecting patient information including observation of overall condition.
• Recognizing and reporting obvious changes in patient condition including emergencies.
• Taking appropriate actions in response to patient emergent situations.
• Accurately documenting patient information on flow sheets and a computerized patient reporting system (CPRS).
• Providing patient information to the accountable RN for inclusion in the patient's plan of care.
• Completing assignments, reporting to the accountable RN when assignment has been completed, or when unable to complete activities.
• Using appropriate lifting/moving/transfer techniques/devices.
• Utilizing infection control and universal standard precautions.
• Participating in the interdisciplinary team care planning and delivery of care process.
• Being knowledgeable of stages of adult development and how it may relate to nursing care; providing input to RN related to patient's stage of adult development and providing care to patients in a variety of stages of adult development.
• Safely performing the following functions:
• Providing routine hygienic/activities of daily living care.
• Performing actions targeted to the maintenance/restoration of skin integrity.
• Collecting patient specimens.
• Administering a variety of comfort measures.
• Taking vital signs after completion of orientation and competency validation.
• Following seizure precautions as directed.
• Transporting patients with oxygen.
• Appropriately using protective/restraining devices.
• Feeding patients orally including those who are at risk for aspiration, after appropriate training.
• Reporting situations including, but not limited to:
• Changes in behavior.
• Wandering.
• Sun-downing.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Inappropriate sexual behavior.
• Aggressive behavior.
• Hallucinations (visual/auditory).
• Incontinence.
• Swallowing problems.
• Abnormal vital signs.
• Recognizing communication barriers.
• Promoting correct use of ambulation devices.
• Monitoring patients on 1:1 observation using worksheets and assignment sheets.
• Assisting with toileting activities as appropriate.
• Applying and providing routine care for a condom catheter.
• Performing finger stick blood glucose using the blood glucose monitor.
• Completing purposeful rounding of patients, assisting with any care needs, keeping team lead and charge nurse informed of any patient issues/concerns.
• Maintaining a safe/clean/stocked work environment.
• Demonstrating appropriate actions in environmental emergencies.
• Utilizing equipment in a safe manner.
• Reporting unsafe equipment and working conditions to appropriate individuals.
• Completing mandatory safety training/annual reviews.
• Interacting in a courteous/respectful manner with patients, families, and visitors as well as with co-workers/members of other services.
• Using appropriate channels of communication.
• Following verbal and/or written directions.
• Adhering to uniform policy.
• Maintaining appropriate boundaries when dealing with patients/significant others/families and all staff.
• Assuming an appropriate amount of work/responsibility for group projects.
• Working within the current workflow processes to improve timeliness of patient care.
• Stocking, replenishing patient rooms and care areas with appropriate equipment and supplies necessary for patient care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 PM - 8:00 AM Compressed/Flexible: Six 12-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift per pay period.

Requirements Conditions of Employment:

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• 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.

Qualifications:

Basic Requirements:

• United States citizenship: Citizen of the United States.
• 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.

Grade Determinations:

• GS-3 (Entry Level) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4 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, healthcare 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 resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems