Nursing Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs

The Geriatrics and Extended Care unit at the Lyons VA Medical Center is looking for an experience Nursing Assistant (NA). The Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists other team members including licensed nursing staff, in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care, or other patients who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness

• Job Duties to include but are not limited to: Personal Care & Comfort Assists with bathing, grooming, oral care, dressing, toileting, continence care, feeding, hydration, mobility, transfers, positioning, comfort, sleep, elimination, and prevention of skin breakdown. Provides a full range of personal care, nutrition, hydration, elimination, mobility, positioning, skin protection, and restorative nursing interventions for assigned Veterans. Clinical Observations & Procedures Obtains, documents, and reports routine vital signs, weights, intake and output, blood glucose readings, specimens, and other delegated clinical observations; immediately reports abnormal findings or changes in condition. Performs validated procedures such as catheter and ostomy care, enemas, simple dressings, application of braces or prosthetic devices, oxygen support, suctioning or tracheostomy care when authorized and competency validated. Safety & Infection Prevention Uses safe patient handling and mobility equipment, infection prevention practices, personal protective equipment, and fall-prevention measures according to policy and competency. Maintains a safe environment, follows infection prevention and safe patient handling requirements, initiates basic life support or other emergency actions as appropriate. Long-Term Care Support Supports long-term care residents by honoring preferences, routines, privacy, dignity, cultural values, and the highest practical level of independence. Promotes autonomy, meaningful activity, continence, social engagement, and highest practical level of function; actively contributes to interdisciplinary care planning and treatment meetings. Rehabilitation & Restorative Care Assists sub-acute and short-stay rehabilitation Veterans with restorative activities, ambulation, transfers, range of motion, bowel and bladder training, adaptive devices, and therapy carryover as directed; monitors tolerance and progress. Dementia Care Provides dementia-sensitive care using calm communication, validation, redirection, de-escalation, structured routines, non-pharmacological approaches, and close observation; follows WanderGuard/elopement-prevention procedures and reports alarms or missing-resident concerns immediately; identifies subtle changes from baseline. Mental Health & Behavioral Health Supports Veterans on mental health or behavioral health units through therapeutic communication, environmental safety checks, and assigned observation levels under close supervision; promptly reports suicidal statements, escalating behavior, or risk of harm. Implements assigned mental health observation levels and therapeutic milieu expectations; recognizes behavioral escalation, suicide or violence risk, contraband or environmental hazards, and initiates appropriate emergency or crisis response while summoning licensed staff. Hospice & Palliative Care Provides compassionate hospice and palliative care focused on comfort, dignity, symptom observation, oral and skin care, positioning, family support, and timely reporting of pain, distress, or changes in the dying process; begins orienting lower-graded NAs as assigned. Documentation & Communication Documents care and observations accurately, participates in shift report and interdisciplinary communication, maintains confidentiality, and completes mandatory training and annual competencies. Mentorship & Professional Development Serves as preceptor/mentor, completes accurate documentation, mandatory education, and annual competency validation. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Midnight to 8:00 a.m. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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) 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 #: 14768F, 14769F, 14770F, Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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