Nursing Assistant

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Listens attentively to report and note pertinent items.
• Accepts adults chosen life-styles and assists necessary adjustments relating to health.
• Recognizing adults values and function of independence and ability to be self-sustaining in life.
• Assisting patients to keep physically and socially active and to maintain peer group interactions.
• Assisting patients to cope with loss e.g. hearing eyesight and death of significant others.
• Assisting patients with self-care as required and with maintaining as much independence as possible.
• Performs basic procedures and treatments according to the orientation/annual/unit specific competency checklist.
• Recognizes medical/behavioral emergencies and obtains immediate assistance; completes basic life support and PMDB (as appropriate) training within orientation period.
• Assists patients to keep physically and socially active.
• Attends interdisciplinary rounds and discharge planning meetings developing an awareness of team member roles and educational tools.
• Implements patient instruction/discharge planning interventions for assigned patients as designated by Team Leader/Charge Nurse.
• Provides respectful care that maintains individuality dignity and self-esteem for Veterans.
• Functions as a therapeutic companion (TC) for Veterans who need close observation. TC assignment includes providing care (baths personal hygiene feeding elimination and intake and output) for Veteran and preventing Veteran from hurting himself or interfering with the treatment by pulling out lines/IVs. Keeps Veteran under direct observation and engages Veteran in activities as indicated.
• Accurately documents nursing care nursing interventions and patient response for assigned patients on established templates.
• Follows basic admission routine for admitting designated Veterans.
• Provides accurate information for special incidents involving Veterans and staff members to Team Leader/Charge Nurse shortly after incident occurs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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.

• 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.

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 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 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 year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.

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.

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:(1) 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.(2) 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 employment the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

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 healthcare 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 residents 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.

• Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded NAs licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute sub-acute or chronic states of illness. The significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors higher graded NAs or other health care professionals.
• In this role the NA functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists higher graded NAs licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care home or community living care or other patients who are in acute sub-acute or chronic states of illness. The NA in this role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors higher graded NAs or other health care professionals.

• 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.

• This is the full performance level for NAs. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute sub acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. NAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role.