Nursing Assistant

Summary

This Nursing Assistant position will be in Nursing Operations, Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP), Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU), Medical Unit (MED), (CLC), and FLOAT (Float Pool). Provides direct patient/resident care under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or, Licensed Practical Nurse. Performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality healthcare, positive and outstanding customer service, and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the Veteran.

Duties

• 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 Clinical Responsibilities - Assist with Treatment 24/7/365 position requiring night, weekend, and holiday hours. Assists in the care and treatment of patients receiving medical, surgical, psychiatric, or outpatient treatment. Observes and reports changes in patient behavior, attitude, and appearance, such as patients' color, vital signs, wound/skin condition, and reaction to/results of treatment. Assists in the performance of diagnostic/assessment examinations by performing duties such as the taking/monitoring, recording, and reporting of vital signs, height, weight, patient concerns/symptoms, and less obvious changes in patients' condition. Provides care to patients experiencing extremes of behavior, including those who are severely depressed, agitated, and/or acting out and those patients with complex medical conditions. The care provided frequently involves setting up/working around various types of medical equipment and the use of medical supplies. Recognizes emergency situations and appropriately intervenes while awaiting assistance. Assist with Activities of Daily Living (ADL's) as needed. Clinical Responsibilities - Personal Patient Care Performs a wide variety of duties aimed at increasing patients' comfort and health status. Performs patient care and comfort measures addressing patients' biopsychosocial needs, personal hygiene, physical comfort, nutrition, hydration, skin care, rehabilitation, and safety. Identifies and reports data relative to more complex patient situations including subtle changes in patients' behavior or condition, or variances related to neurological and vital signs, actual and potential safety issues, and other parameters. Patient Teaching Explains to patients and family members the necessity of procedures for proper health care. Provides specific health information based on patient's condition, such as acceptance of limited physical mobility, proper body mechanics, and the importance of adhering to prescribed regimens for both medical and mental health conditions. Administrative Responsibilities Required to complete quarterly BLS training prior to first day of new quarter. Enters specific information into the patient's electronic record using appropriate formats, medical terminology, and templates. This information must be entered in a complete, confidential, and professional manner to insure information on the patient is shared with other VA staff. This information is to be reviewed on a regular basis. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Attendance of all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, other committees as appropriate, etc.) is necessary. Additional duties may be required to be performed, as needed. Work Schedule: MHRRTP, APU, MED, CLC, and FLOAT is a 24 hour-7 day a week-365 day a year direct patient care unit. Day versus night shifts and specific days off are not guaranteed. Shifts are based on the operational needs of the organization to best care for our Veterans. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May Be 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…

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2026 or until position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be September 10, 2026. 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 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: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) Experience or Education or Training Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA OR One (1) year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation OR Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related [training] course of study [or program] of less than one (1) year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Grandfathering Provisions. All NAs 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 re-entry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employments, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.GS-3 NA (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 NA 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,…

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/.