Nursing Assistant (Acute Care)

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Overview: Career-ladder Nursing Assistant position in Acute Care at South Texas Veterans Healthcare System a tertiary facility serving Veterans across acute surgical behavioral health rehabilitation geriatric and primary care. NAs are members of the interdisciplinary nursing team providing direct patient care under RN/LVN clinical direction and Nurse Manager supervision. This is a 24/7 facility requiring rotating shifts weekends and holidays. May be filled at GS-3 GS-4 or GS-5 with promotion potential to the GS-5 full performance level.

GS-3 (Entry): Works under close direct supervision with preceptor guidance; refers questions to licensed or higher-graded staff. Learning basic duties: glucose monitoring personal hygiene physical comfort nutrition elimination activity/rest prevention of skin breakdown and rehabilitative care. Begins using observation and reporting skills. Assists with patient/family orientation equipment setup and group activities. Learning proper body mechanics and safe equipment use to prevent injury. No independent on-call duties.

GS-4 (Developmental): Works under close RN/LVN supervision; directs same- or lower-graded staff on tasks. Performs broader direct care including catheterization colostomy care skin/wound care dressings and braces/prosthetics; uses monitoring equipment (bladder scanner CPM glucometer) with QC responsibility; documents intake/output vitals pain scores and rounding; recognizes and reports condition changes and abuse signs; applies de-escalation techniques with aggressive or elopement-risk patients; assists in emergencies/codes; provides emotional support to dying patients/families; transports patients specimens and medications. Subject to rotating shifts and disaster labor pool reassignment.

GS-5 (Full Performance): Functions at the full performance level under RN-in-Charge direction; serves as preceptor/mentor to lower-graded NAs overseeing orientation and practical experience. Performs the same clinical emergency assessment and communication duties as GS-4 with greater independence across more complex less predictable assignments plus peer education responsibilities and emphasis on calming reassuring patient/family communication. Subject to non-administrative tours and disaster/pandemic labor pool activation.

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required depending on the needs of the organization
• 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.

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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Experience Education or Training. You must meet one of the following to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA):
  1. Six (6) 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; (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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.

• EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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 two (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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

• 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.

• EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care home or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative acute sub-acute chronic maintenance and hospice care. OR
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

• 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.