Geriatric Nursing Assistant (Extended Care)

Quick Facts

• Role: Geriatric Nursing Assistant (Extended Care)

• Setting: Geriatric Extended Care (GEC)

• Coverage period: Detail position for 1 year, up to 4 years

• Schedule: 7:30am–8:00pm

• Recruitment/relocation incentives: Not authorized

Description

The Geriatric Extended Care (GEC) Nursing Assistant provides care to Veterans with physical and/or behavioral health issues. Nursing Assistants support licensed nursing staff across preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care by assisting with assessment, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care under close supervision.

Responsibilities

• Use glucose monitoring equipment to obtain readings and report deviations to appropriate staff
• Provide direct care for complex Veterans
• Observe subtle changes in resident condition (behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite) and take appropriate action within assigned role
• Document care provided, observations, and responses on required tools/forms
• Contact appropriate nursing personnel in response to subtle patient changes
• Administer complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning
• Monitor and document patient intake and output; report deviations accurately and on time
• Perform nursing procedures within scope per policy (enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressing, application of braces/prosthetic devices)
• Assist with small group activities aligned with each resident’s treatment plan
• Promote autonomy and independence through respectful care, limit setting, and individualized treatment
• Participate in treatment planning meetings
• Use equipment that supports self-care (lift equipment, Hydro sound tubs, wandering system)
• Provide information to the treatment team for the plan of care; participate in care-planning meetings
• Enter resident condition updates into the chart using appropriate formats
• Maintain a clean, safe environment; remove defective equipment and report hazards
• Follow safety regulations and infection control practices; use proper aseptic technique
• Serve as unit safe patient handling liaison
• Act as preceptor/mentor to other Nursing Assistants and orient health care team members as appropriate
• Support unit-based counseling roles
• Manage disruptive behavior and request assistance from other health care members as needed
• Initiate basic life support when indicated and take appropriate action while awaiting assistance

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases
• Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays)
• Parental leave: up to 12 weeks paid parental leave after 12 months
• Child care subsidy (eligibility-based) after 60 days for qualifying full-time employees
• Retirement: federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K (up to 5% contributions)
• Insurance: federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care; many plans may carry into retirement
• Telework: not authorized; position is not virtual