Nursing Assistant - ICU

Nursing Assistant Position

Summary This Nursing Assistant position is full-time (80 hours per pay period) and works in the ICU at a two-divisional teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Kentucky (UK) Medical Center at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Lexington, Ky. The incumbent will normally work at the Bowling Campus but is required to work at the Sousley Campus as necessary.

Responsibilities

The incumbent in this position is an active participant in the nursing team at the Lexington VA Health Care System and works a tour of duty in the ICU. The incumbent will build upon knowledge of basic nursing care and standardized procedures to provide service to patients. He / she is able to perform tasks after receipt of patient data and information. The incumbent's assignment is related to the specific needs of the area during a given tour as well as routine functions of the area. The incumbent is primarily assigned to functions on any given tour of duty and not a specified assignment of a group of patients. However, an assignment of a designated group of patients or specific patient interventions may be required. Managing equipment special to the area is required. The incumbent will assist the RN with patient care, obtain vital signs, obtain electrocardiograms, proper lead placement for monitoring, perform phlebotomy and do simple wound dressings. Although this position is organizationally aligned to the ICU, the incumbent is often required to cover the PCU as patient workload demands.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule : Days / Nights 12 hours with rotation to other shifts as needed. Pay : Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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) 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. 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)

Requirements

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. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications

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. Experience or Education or Training. (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. 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. 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.

Physical Requirements

Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight pulling (up to 8 hours); Pushing (up to 8 hours); Reaching above shoulders; Use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 8 hours); standing (up to 8 hours); kneeling (2 to 3 hours); repeated bending (up to 8 hours); both legs required; hearing (aid permitted).