Nursing Assistant-Acute Care

This Nursing Assistant position is located at the Iowa City VA Medical Center within our Medical / Surgical Nursing Unit. The Nursing Assistant works as an important part of a nursing team caring for acutely ill Veterans with complex, critical health issues that require constant monitoring and intervention. The Nursing Assistant works under the direction of an RN, monitoring patients and performing a mix of basic and more complex patient-centered tasks.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Medical-Surgical Nursing Assistant operates under the supervision of the RN, carrying out various responsibilities as outlined below. Additionally, the incumbent will receive training in cardiac monitoring and achieve certification in performing essential, non-interpretive tasks associated with the telemetry system. This encompasses aiding in the setup of patients on telemetry devices for observation, handling and adjusting monitoring settings at bedside monitors, coordinating with the technicians, monitoring the displays and alerting RNs to alarms, and replacing batteries and leads as required.

Major duties include, but are not limited to :

• Take and record patient vital signs.
• Administer skin care treatments to prevent complications and promote healing, utilizing a range of cleansing baths and shampoos.
• Facilitate oral care and hygiene, including the maintenance of dentures.
• Ensure proper room setup and maintain cleanliness of terminal rooms to meet requirements for each Reusable Medical Device (RMD).
• Provide assistance with the utilization of bedpans and urinals; applies external catheters and ensures their patency or drainage; aids in bowel and bladder training; supports the provision of ostomy care for established and uncomplicated ostomies.
• Aid patients in self-feeding or provides assistance to those unable to feed themselves, monitoring and documenting all intake and output, excluding totals from intravenous and tube feeding. (May assist RN with administering Bolus Tube Feedings via G-tube, J-tube, GJ-tube by positioning the patient and passing supplies.)
• Reposition patients as necessary utilizing various supportive and comfort devices. Aids or facilitates patient transfers and activities, such as ambulation, stretcher, and / or wheelchair to bed. Accompanies patients to tests as required.
• Provide support in the assembly of equipment for sterile procedures, as well as the administration of oxygen and the setup of vacuum / suction systems.
• Participate in health team conferences by reporting observations of patient's physical, mental, and emotional status.
• Assist in diagnostic examinations by positioning / draping the patient and passing instruments and supplies.
• Engage in team communication to enhance all facets of patient safety and is responsible for ensuring effective handoff communication to incoming Nursing Assistants to prevent any lapses in care.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Sunday-Saturday, days, evenings, and nights. Alternating weekends and holidays required. (Note : Vacancies may not presently exist for all work schedules but may become available at any point during the opening period of this vacancy announcement.)

Additional Pay :

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.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized