Nursing Assistant

Duties

• Nursing Care Activities:
  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Lifting and transferring
  • Positioning of patients
  • Range of motion exercises
  • Bowel and bladder training
  • Restorative activities
  • Hourly rounds
• Direct Patient Care Activities:
  • Taking and recording of vital signs including TPR's and blood pressures
  • EKG (training will be provided)
  • Phlebotomy (training will be provided)
  • Oral suctioning
  • Applying non-sterile dry dressings to skin
  • Recording and reporting intake and output
  • Positioning the patient
  • Aiding in diagnostic examinations and therapeutic treatments
  • Recognizing and reporting changes in the patient's condition
  • Applying cold and warm compresses
  • Performing uncomplicated dressing changes
  • Assembling and using suctioning and oxygen equipment
  • Applying external urinary and fecal drainage bags and tubing
  • Collecting labels, bags, and delivering specimens to the lab
  • Using patient care equipment such as patient lifters, mobilizers, scales, specialized beds, and mattress overlays
  • Applying protective and supportive devices as ordered
  • Escorting patients/residents to various clinics, therapies, and activities within and outside the center
  • Positioning patients/assisting MD in diagnostic procedures
  • Documenting and reporting observations and treatments on the patient's record
  • Reporting changes in the patient's condition to the appropriate team member
  • Motivation/Patient Teaching Activities: Providing impetus for participation in activities of daily living with the goal of achieving self-care status at the highest level of the patient's capability

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship
• Six months of general experience
• One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• 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: 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)
• 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
• 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: GS-3 NA (Entry Level) - None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 NA - 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 - 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)
• GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level) - 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 - Education - 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 or possession of a bachelor's degree AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)

Preferred Experience: 1-2 years CNA in a long term care facility

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position