Nursing Assistant

The Nursing Assistant (NA) will work in a Long Term Care Unit at either the Montrose or Castle Point Campus.The Community Living Center (CLC) Nursing Assistant (NA) will primarily perform assignments required in the 24/7 setting within Nursing Service and may perform assignments outside of the CLC as needed. This position requires the NA to work rotating shifts weekends and holidays to meet the operational needs of the home. The CLC NA will uphold the standards of care as outlined by Facility / Nursing Service policies and procedures. The incumbent provides nursing care to a variety of residents within the Community Living Center. The NAs function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive acute sub-acute chronic maintenance and hospice care. The NA may also assumes a peer education/mentorship. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provides direct care for complex veterans
• Performs nursing care to meet the patients/residents need for personal hygiene physical comfort activity exercise rest nutrition elimination prevention of skin breakdown and rehabilitative aspects of care.
• Makes observations of subtle changes in residents condition i.e. behavior shifts mood skin coloring appetite etc. and takes action accordingly within the NAs assigned role.
• Documents care given observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms and within the Electronic Health Record.
• Responds appropriately to subtle patient/resident changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personnel
• Performs tracheostomy care including suctioning.
• Monitor and documents patient/resident intake and output reporting deviations timely and accurately
• Monitors patients/residents according to levels of observations to one suicide continuous observation q 15 minute checks and conducts intentional hourly rounding.
• Monitors Veterans who may be at risk for harming themselves and or others according to established policies and procedures and appropriately refers issues to the charge nurse or other health care professional.
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures. Such procedures but not limited to: enemas colostomy care skin care simple dressing changes application of braces and prosthetic devices.
• Works on small group activities with veterans/residents according to the patients/resident treatment plan.
• Assisting with patient/resident education including orienting patient/resident/family to unit routines and policies.
• Recognizes the patients/residents autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect limit setting and individualized treatment.
• Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care such as; lift equipment and Veteran/Resident Wandering System. Verbally provides patient/resident information to the treatment team for inclusion in the patients/residents plan of care participates in treatment team meetings for patient/resident care planning.
• 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 a septic technique in performance of duties.
• May serve as the unit safe patient handling liaison
• Orients members of the health care team to the CLC as appropriate
• Functions as a member of the unit based counsel
• Performs Restorative Nursing Care as assigned
• Manages disruptive patient/resident behavior and appropriately intervenes and requests assistance from other health care members.
• Appropriately initiates basic life support takes appropriate action when directed during emergent situations.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Schedules will be discussed at the time of interview.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• Experience Education or Training. (1) Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR (2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR (3) Completion of an intensive specialized occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.
• 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.

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-3: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4:One year of specialized experience as a nursing assistant or experience in another medical field (LPN 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 KSAs1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.2. Ability to observe patients/residents or residents physical or emotional status of refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.3. 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.4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents their families and other health professionals.

GS-5: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 addition the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs below;
OR
Education: Successful completion of a 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelors degree that included 24 semester hours of courses related to health care or possession of a bachelors degree;
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs1. 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 Vocation 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 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.

Preferred Experience: Certification as a Nursing Assistant with 2 years experience on a medical unit is preferred; experience working with mental health patients.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position include lifting prolonged standing and sitting frequent bending walking (distance) climbing reaching (overhead extensive/repetitive) pulling pushing repetitive motion and stooping. The mental/sensory requirements include recall reasoning problem-solving hearing speaking clearly writing legibly keyboarding reading and logical thinking depth perception hearing (aide permitted); near/far vision correctable to meet Drivers License requirements. The environments pace can vary from steady to a sometimes-fast pace requiring handling of multiple priorities frequent sometimes intense customer interactions and the ability to adapt to frequent changes in a sometimes-noisy environment. There may be the need to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to disease illness and hazardous materials. Work requires extensive walking standing stretching and bending in caring for patients.