Nursing Assistant

Duties

Summary

Provides direct patient resident care under the direction of a Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse ,Physician, Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant.

Responsibilities

Provides direct patient resident care in a variety of settings, including acute medical unit, acute or sub-acute mental health unit, community living center, residential rehabilitation and ambulatory care. Care includes assisting with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating and mobility. Operates a variety of equipment including, but not limited to, wheelchairs, stretchers, vital sign machines, bladder scanners, lifts and oxygen. Assists with procedures using proper technique. Transports patients using safe technique. Completes thorough, timely and accurate documentation of care provided.

Must be able to recognize and react to acute changes or emergent patient conditions such as bleeding, abnormal vital signs and behavior crisis. If assigned to the acute medical unit, will be required to pass test for cardiac rhythms and watch monitors. Monitor watching will require recognition of alarms for serious or life threatening rhythms and immediate notification of the Registered Nurse who is responsible for assessment and intervention.

• Assists in the care and treatment of patients receiving medical, surgical, psychiatric, or outpatient treatment. Observes and reports obvious changes in patient behavior, attitude, and appearance.
• Assists in the performance of diagnostic/assessment examinations by performing duties (such as the taking, recording, monitoring, and reporting of vital signs, patient height and weight, and patient concerns/symptoms) and preparing and positioning the patient.
• Performs simple treatment procedures such as changing dressings/bandages; applying or removing binders, arm slings, or applying hot and cold packs.
• Performs a wide variety of duties aimed at increasing patients' comfort and health status. Performs basic personal care that requires knowledge of standardized procedures such as performance of bathing, toileting, activities of daily living, active/passive range-of-motion activities, assisting with eating/drinking, transporting patients, and bed making. Applies protective patient safety devices.
• Provides personal comfort items, such as drinking water, to patients, and assures the patient's environment is safe, clean and tidy
• Explains to patients and family members the necessity of procedures for proper health care.
• Assists with general health education, such as reminding patients/family/care providers of importance of skin care, position changes, patient safety, adhering to medication/dietary regimen.
• 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.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

5

• Job family (Series)

  0621 Nursing Assistant

  Similar jobs

  • Assistants, Medical

  • Assistants, Nursing

  • Assistants, Psychiatric Technician

  • Medical Assistants

  • Nursing Assistants

  • Psychiatric Technician Assistants

• Requirements

  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 and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

  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.
  • Education/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 (Please see Specialized Experience/Education below in for requirements to be considered for the GS-05 level).
  • English Language Proficiency: Nursing assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English.

  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).
  Grade Determinations:GS-03: Nothing beyond the basic requirements.
  GS-04: One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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,

  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. In addition to meeting the experience or education requirements applicants must be proficient in 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-05: 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.

  OR:

  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. In addition to meeting the experience or education requirements applicants must be proficient in 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.
  References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualification.

  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: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting and turning. It requires repositioning patients and assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers. Mechanical devices when available are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care. The positions requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with the neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect him/herself from physically abusive patients.

  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

  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.

  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, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

  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.

  Background checks and security clearance

  Security clearance

  Other

  Drug test required

  Yes

  Position sensitivity and risk

  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

  Trust determination process

  Suitability/Fitness

• Required Documents

  Required Documents

  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  • Resume

  • Transcript

  VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations can be found at: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf.

  The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

  • Cover Letter

  • DD-214/ Statement of Service

  • Disability Letter (VA)

  • Other (1)

  • Resume

  • SF-15

  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

  • Transcript

  Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• Benefits

  Benefits

  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 windowLearn 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.

Help

This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

VA Nationwide and VA Sheridan HCS Current Permanent Employees only