Summary

The Nursing Assistant position is located in the Nursing Service (Patient Care Services) within VANTHCS. The Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventative, acute, subacute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care.

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.

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
• 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
• General Experience: Six months general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nursing Assistant
• OR Education: One year of education above high school with courses related to the nursing assistant occupation
• OR Training: Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant (e.g., Nurse Aid Certification course) may also meet the experience requirements for GS-3. Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level) Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignments
• Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised
• GS-4 Nursing Assistant Experience
• One year of specialized experience as a NA or experience in another medical field (licensed practical nurse, health technician, hospital corpsman, etc.), performing technical and nursing skills requiring knowledge of the human physical and emotional states, therapeutic communication, and technical skills required for basic and intermediate treatments
• OR, Education
• Successful completion of 2 years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care, health care or in a field of study appropriate to the specialization of the position, such as education in a program for psychology, psychiatric, or operating room technicians
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents
• Ability to observe patients/residents'
• or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner
• Ability to properly use equipment, materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures such as bladder scan, continuous passive motion device, blood glucose monitoring machine, specimen collection, etc
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals
• GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level) 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, 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team and other personnel
• This includes serving as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting
• 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
• NOTE: Students/trainees may be appointed in accordance with 38 U.S.C. §
• 7405(a)(1)(D)
• See Part II, Chapter 3, paragraph 5 of VA Handbook 5005
• Grandfathering Provisions
• All Nursing Assistants 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
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Preferred Experience: Direct Patient Care Experience Long-Term Care experience Acute Care experience Reference: Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard dated May 22, 2024
• For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05
• Physical Requirements: Lifting up to 35 pounds for 8-12 hours, intermittently
• moderate carrying (15-35 pounds) for 8 to 12 hours, intermittently
• lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care
• pulling for 8 to 12 hours, intermittently
• pushing for 8-12 hours, intermittently
• reaching above the shoulders for 8-12 hours, intermittently, both hands required
• walking 8- 12 hours, intermittently
• standing 8-12 hours intermittently
• kneeling 8 to 12 hours, intermittently
• repeated bending for 8-12 hours, intermittently
• climbing and use of both legs and arms for 8-12 hours, intermittently, both legs required
• near vision at 13 to 16"
• Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing aid permitted
• twisting, simply grasp and fine manipulation
• Schedule Flexibility: This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 hospital
• Some positions require rotation of tours or indefinite work on non-administrative tours as established by the immediate supervisor

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until April 30, 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 7, 2025, with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks until 4/30/2025
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• Applicants who are referred will be considered for 90 days, after 90 days applicants will have to reapply
• Duties include but are not limited to: All duties performed will be completed under close supervision with appropriate training and competencies for assigned task: Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans Provides direct care for complex veterans
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition, i.e
• behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc
• Documents care given, observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms
• Performs oral and nasopharyngeal suctioning
• Administers complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning
• Monitors and documents patient intake and output
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran for such procedures but not limited to: enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care simple dressing, application of braces and prosthetic devices
• Works on small group activities with veterans/residents according to patients/veterans' treatment plan
• Recognizes the resident's autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect, limit setting and individualized treatment
• Actively participates in treatment planning meetings
• Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care, such as lift equipment, hydro sound tubs, and veteran/resident wandering system
• Verbally provides patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran/resident's plan of care, participates in treatment team meetings for resident care planning
• Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats
• Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient/resident
• Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, observes safety regulations, contributes to infection control, and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, Nights/Weekends/Holidays 7:30am-8:00 pm, 7:30pm-8:00am, rotating weekends (6 - 12 hour shifts + 1 - 8 hour shift per PP) \"May be required to work other shifts, be on call, work weekends and/or holidays as patient care and needs of the service require
• Should operational needs dictate, candidates must be willing to work within other units (including community based outpatient clinics, for example) to assist and support continuation of the provision of care/services.\" Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be available for highly qualified individual
• 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) 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 #: 52871-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf