Nursing Assistant - Acute Care

About the role

The Nursing Assistant (Acute Care) at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center supports Veteran-centered inpatient care by assisting with daily living needs - mobility - hygiene - nutrition - and patient comfort. Working under supervision, the Nursing Assistant monitors and documents patient status, promptly reports changes, and helps maintain a safe, efficient care environment.

Responsibilities

• Provides basic patient care under close supervision - including hygiene, grooming, bathing, toileting, and assistance with mobility.
• Delivers routine comfort measures such as positioning, turning, and ensuring safe, clean surroundings.
• Obtains and records simple observations (e.g., intake/output, basic measurements).
• Reports noticeable changes in patient condition to senior staff promptly.
• Supports nurses by preparing patient rooms, gathering supplies, and assisting with non-complex tasks.
• Follows established protocols, infection-control procedures, and safety standards.
• Performs all GS-3 duties with greater independence and consistency.
• Obtains and documents vital signs, weights, and additional clinical observations accurately.
• Assists with more complex mobility needs, including safe patient transfers, ambulation, and use of equipment.
• Participates in implementing parts of individualized care plans under supervision.
• Assists with specimen collection (non-complex), equipment setup, and basic clinical support.
• Communicates effectively with nursing staff, patients, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Independently performs a wide range of direct patient-care duties in acute care settings.
• Recognizes and immediately reports significant changes in patient condition using clinical judgment.
• Provides advanced support with mobility, therapeutic positioning, and prevention of complications (e.g., pressure injury prevention).
• Performs more complex tasks such as catheter care support, wound care assistance, and specialized monitoring as delegated.
• Actively contributes to carrying out nursing care plans and interdisciplinary care activities.
• Documents patient observations thoroughly and ensures timely, accurate communication across the care team.
• Maintains a safe, organized, and therapeutic care environment, demonstrating full competence in acute-care procedures.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, English Language Proficiency, Grandfathering Provisions.
• GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4: 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.
• 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 assignment.
• 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 (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

Skills

• Strong attention to detail.
• Adaptability.
• The ability to work effectively in a fast-paced acute care setting.

Benefits

N/A

Pay

N/A

Schedule

Night shift - 7:00pm to 7:30am tour