Duties

The Telemetry Monitor Nursing Assistant (NA) is assigned to the central telemetry monitoring unit working a rotating tour of duty including weekends. Continuous cardiac monitoring and direct and indirect patient care for an adult and or geriatric patients. Operates independently under the direct supervision of the Nurse Manager or designated Registered Nurse.

Major duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Provides assistance of a technical, specialized, or support nature to health and medical personnel in the diagnosis or treatment of patients with cardiac conditions.
• Provides continuous monitoring of cardiac rate, rhythm, and patterns of conduction at a central monitoring station for patients on the Acute Medical/Surgical Care Telemetry Units.
  • Admits and discharges patients to/from the central telemetry monitoring system per provider orders.
  • Continuously observes patient cardiac rhythms at a central monitoring station and responds to alarms. based on telemetry protocols.
  • Accurately identifies basic patterns, supraventricular and ventricular rhythms, and advanced blocks.
  • Timely recognizes and immediately notifies RN of changes in baseline rhythms, abnormal rhythms, sustained rate changes per minute, and/or potentially life-threatening arrhythmias.
  • Gives accurate verbal report of patient's rhythms, rates and any other pertinent information to oncoming monitoring personnel to maintain continuity of care and safety.
  • Correctly identifies morphology of each lead.
  • Troubleshoots basic problems with telemetry monitoring system.
• Completes accurate and thorough documentation related to cardiac rhythm interpretation as well as information to be gathered to formulate a permanent record of rhythm tracing documentation.
• Completes documentation and runs strips on admission, discharge, dysrhythmia event, change in rhythm, and routine shift progression as per approved medical center/unit policies, guidelines and/or the direction of the RN.
• Monitors and detects for abnormal changes of rate, rhythm or patterns of conduction, directly from the oscilloscopic, rhythm display, form computer triggered alarms or computer memory.
• Maintains a safe, clean, therapeutic environment and adheres to infection control guidelines.
• Treats customers in a courteous and helpful manner that indicates dignity and respect.
• Interacts with visitors/staff in a courteous, thoughtful, and caring manner using tact, discretion and patience when explaining policies and procedures or assisting in finding an answer to a problem.
• Ensures the utilization of the current end-user RME process for cleaning transmitters between patient uses. and prepares the transmitter and necessary equipment for next patient use.
• Maintains daily telemetry equipment through proper paper placement, battery checks, self-testing setting of alarms and volumes.
• Performs other related duties for which the multi-skilled health telemetry monitoring personnel has been trained as assigned by the RN.
• Demonstrates ability to effectively function as a team member and willingly participates in unit activities and works toward resolution of unit issues.
• Prepares, delivers, and actively participates in the unit's educational in-service programs provided to staff and patient.
• Precepts new monitor telemetry monitoring personnel in all aspects of the role.
• Assists/relieves the staff where assigned by the RN or Nursing Supervisor.

Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts. Weekends included.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Title/Functional Statement #:Telemetry Monitor Nursing Assistant/PD000000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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 Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.
• Education or Training: One year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
• English Language Proficiency: Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:GS-5: Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level)

(a) Experience: One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) below;

OR,

(b) Education: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree that included 24 semester hours of courses related to health care or possession of a bachelor's degree;

AND

(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (1) Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in a hospital, long term care or outpatient setting under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse.
(2) Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team and other personnel. This includes serving as a preceptor to new Nursing Assistants by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting.
(3) Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance. For example, recognizing need for basic life support, controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis, etc.

Physical Requirements: Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. Long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. There is a need to use proper body mechanics. A variety of mechanical equipment is available to assist in providing patient care which involves lifting, pushing, etc. Transferring patients and objects. May be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials; protective clothing may be required in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. Must be mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Preferred Experience: Minimum 2 years of experience in telemetry monitoring is preferred. Experience in the interpretation and identification of cardiac rhythms or evidence of successful completion of a telemetry monitoring or basic arrhythmia class is strongly preferred.

References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix, G46, Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-05.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .