Student Nurse Technician - Student Trainee Experience Program (Va-Step)

Summary

Become a Registered Nurse at the VA Montana Health Care System with our VA Student Trainee Experience Program (VA-STEP)! VA-STEP serves as a first step to gain employment within the VA after graduation and licensure. The student is employed as a trainee earning a salary while they learn to develop understanding, confidence, and competencies in the care of our nations Veterans at your local VA Montana Medical Center.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

03/01/2024 to 03/11/2024

• Salary

$29.59 - $29.59 per hour

• Pay scale & grade

AD 00

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Locations

Few vacancies in the following locations:

• Billings, MT

• Bozeman, MT

• Fort Harrison, MT

• Great Falls, MT

• Show more locations (2)

• Kalispell, MT

• Missoula, MT

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

25% or less

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Temporary

• 400 Hours

• Work schedule

Intermittent -

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0699 Medical And Health Student Trainee

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBSU-12335260-24-KB

• Control number

779499100

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This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Announcement is open to Current U.S. Citizens. In addition, you must be a current Nursing Student who has completed or are within one semester of completing the junior year of their Bachelor's Degree Program from a CCNE or ACEN accredited school of Nursing Sciences program.

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Duties

The VA-Step (VA Student Trainee Experience Program) Student Nurse Technician is designed to attract academically successful students of nursing programs to VA Medical Centers. Under the guidance of a proficient VA Registered Nurse preceptor, the student will develop clinical competencies in nursing specialty areas such as critical care, medical-surgical, post-surgical, ICU, mental health, and other clinical settings throughout the VA Medical Center. The learning opportunities in the specialty clinical areas will be enhanced by didactic course work, structured clinical experiences including competency-based clinical practice and participation in nursing-focused clinical conferences.

The VA-Step Student Nurse Technician adheres to established policies, standards of care, standards of practice; provide direct nursing care under the direct supervision of a qualified BSN preceptor, and functions as a team member. Under the direct supervision of a qualified BSN preceptor, the VA-Step Student Nurse Technician is developing the educational, experiential, and knowledge/practice-based competency requirements.

Major Duties:

• The Scope of Practice for the VA-STEP student compares to all registered nurses in all areas of clinical practice as defined in the four (4) dimensions and nine (9) criteria outlined in the Nurse Qualification Standards.

• The student will develop competency-based clinical practice with a qualified Registered Nurse (RN) preceptor supervising all aspects of practice, when providing direct patient care

• Under direct supervision administers medications and procedures per established policies, standards of care, and guidelines.

• The following procedures require RN preceptor supervision, until clinical competency is verified by RN preceptor:

• Basic nursing care (beds, baths, toileting, oral hygiene, etc.)

• TEDS/ SCDs (sequential compression devices)

• Finger stick for blood glucose

• Urinary catheter care

• Urinary catheter insertions

• Tube feeding irrigations.

• Venipuncture and initiation of IV therapy

• Ostomy care

• NG or Feeding tube insertion.

• Continuous or Intermittent bladder irrigation (requires competency prior to initiation)

• Invasive monitoring, e.g. arterial lines, pulmonary artery pressure monitoring

• Patient transfers, e.g. from ICU to floor

• Specimen collection (labeling and sending to lab)

• Dressing changes of central, PICC, arterial lines

• Wound dressing changes

• Communication with members of healthcare team (doctors, case managers, social workers, pharmacists, etc.)

• Telemetry lead placement and monitor (requires competency prior to initiation

• Patient Teaching

• Discharge Teaching/Instruction

• Admission assessment

• Shift assessment.

• Tracheostomy Care (suctioning, stoma care, trach tube care; cuff manipulation; trach ties)

• Chest Tubes Monitoring/assessing/dressing change.

• Any new procedure other than those specified the below.

• Observation only procedures. The following procedures may NOT be done by the students under any circumstances:

• Arterial blood draws

• Defibrillation or cardioversion

• Administration of chemotherapeutic agents

• Accepting verbal or telephone orders from a physician and transcribing orders

• Administration of conscious sedation

• Any invasive monitoring calibrations

• Discontinuing/ pulling surgically inserted drains of any kind

• Sheath removal post cardiac catheterization

• Pacemakers, wire care protocols

Students must be currently attending a College or University and be in a Baccalaureate Nursing Program approved by the appropriate State-Accrediting Agencies by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

NOTE: Submit a letter from the Dean or Director of the school to the designee of the chosen VA Medical facility. The letter should include a nomination of the student to the program, verification of enrollment as a full-time student (as defined by the school), verification of a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and successful completion (or within one semester of completion) of the Junior year. Additionally, students must submit a reference from a current faculty member.

Work Schedule: 80 hour pay period - hours determined by reporting supervisor

Hours and Location will be determined by supervisor and student upon selection

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

• 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.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• 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 Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The CGPA must be computed on post-secondary academic work taken within the past 3 years, or; based on academic work accepted for credit towards the clinical laboratory science degree

• While a student may have a grade "C" in a specialty course, the cumulative GPA for their specialty courses may not be less than a 3.0. Only data on official transcripts should be used for determining grade qualifications

• Be able to complete a minimum of 400 hours as a VA-Step Student in a VA Facility

• Not be under a service obligation to any Federal, State, or Private Institution, or be a recipient of any Federal scholarship that incurs a service obligation to another organization

• Currently in a Good Academic Standing (as defined by the school the student is attending) leading to graduation and NCLEX certification

• Not obligated to work somewhere outside the VA after graduation

• Undergo a Background/Suitability Investigation

• Currently attending a College or University and be in a Baccalaureate Nursing Program approved by the appropriate State-Accrediting Agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The Student Nurse Technician may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The Student Nurse Technician may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The Student Nurse Technician must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

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

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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

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.