Nursing Assistant (Intermittent and Temporary)

About the role

These Nursing Assistant positions are in Nursing Service in the Float Pool as Intermittent (Per Diem). They provide direct patient/resident care under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Practical Nurse, promoting quality healthcare, positive customer service, and an environment committed to serving Veterans.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in inpatient/outpatient settings under RN/LVN/LPN direction.
• Properly use equipment, materials, and supplies for simple diagnostic and treatment procedures (e.g., bladder scan, continuous passive motion device, specimen collection).
• Perform safety & 1:1 watch observations following PMDB competency.
• Communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team, and other personnel.
• Recognize and react to emergent patient care situations and intervene while awaiting assistance (e.g., basic life support, bleeding control, behavior crisis).
• Perform nursing care including personal care, grooming, activities of daily living, and post‑mortem care.
• Support diagnostic procedures: prepare and monitor the Veteran’s condition.
• Monitor bladder and bowel functioning, intake & output, hydration.
• Obtain vital signs or electrocardiogram (EKG).
• Monitor psychiatric symptoms and assist in medical and psychiatric emergencies.
• Maintain patient and environmental safety; provide one‑to‑one observations for elopement and safety watch.
• Provide accurate documentation per policy (sitter notes, itemized belongings, vital signs, I&O, etc.).
• Work in multiple areas: Community Living Center (CLC), Acute Mental Health/Acute Detox, Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship required; non‑citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy.

English language proficiency: proficient in spoken and written English per VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Education or experience pathways:

• Six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire NA knowledge and skills; 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 less than one year as a NA.

Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but cannot be hired until all requirements are met.

Qualifications

Grade determinations (GS‑3 to GS‑5) based on experience and education:

• GS‑3 (Entry Level): No experience beyond basic requirements; close supervision.
• GS‑4 (Intermediate/Developmental): One year of specialized NA experience or experience in another medical field (LPN, health technician, hospital corpsman, etc.) performing technical/nursing skills requiring knowledge of human physical/emotional states, therapeutic communication, and basic/intermediate treatments; OR successful completion of 2 years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care, health care, or appropriate field (e.g., psychology, psychiatric, OR tech). Must demonstrate KSAs: provide range of patient care, observe status and refer deviations, use equipment/materials, communicate effectively.
• GS‑5 (Full Performance): One year of progressively responsible assignments equivalent to GS‑4 level demonstrating knowledge/skills/abilities related to specific assignment; OR successful completion of a 4‑year bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of health‑care‑related courses (or bachelor's degree). Must demonstrate KSAs: assist in full range of nursing care for patients with physical/behavioral problems, communicate orally with patients/families/interdisciplinary team, serve as preceptor to new NAs, recognize/react to emergent situations (e.g., basic life support, bleeding control, behavior crisis).

Preferred experience: Mental Health and Long‑term Care.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑5; actual grade may be selected in the range GS‑3 to GS‑5.

Skills

• Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to nurse care plan.
• Ability to observe patients/residents’ physical or emotional status and refer deviations/problems