"Alerted.org

Summary The primary purpose of the Nursing Assistant (NA) position is to promote recovery, provide a safe and supported environment for healing and assist with daily living activities such as oral care, hair grooming, bathing, and assisting with meals as needed, while meeting the safety requirements of the Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU). Responsibilities Assist in the full range of nursing care for Veterans with behavioral and/or physical problems under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Practical Nurse. Provide daily living activities such as assisting residents with daily oral care (dentures, tooth brush), hair grooming, bathing, nail and related hygiene care. Set up, serve and monitor veteran meals, lift, turn, and transfer residents with appropriate technique and lifting assistance devices. Prepare and transport patients as needed for tests, procedures or discharge. Notify nursing of any physical or behavior changes. Document these changes using proper documentation forums. Use computer, computer programs, phone, xerox and fax machines. Assist with a complete range of treatment and procedures that include but is not limited to the following: leading or assisting group therapy; environmental safety checks, management of hazardous items, patient belonging inventory, administering hot and cold packs; accucheks; inserting Foley catheters; caring for patients in isolation; BVI; colostomy care; application of EKG leads and providing 1:1 monitoring of patients with altered mental status, suicidal/homicidal ideation, or identified as high risk and in need of constant supervision. Perform a range of diagnostic support duties which includes taking, recording, and reporting deviations in vital signs, taking specimens, labeling specimens for the laboratory, and assisting the provider in a variety of diagnostic exams. Consistently makes gross accurate observations of the veteran's condition and reports and documents findings. Identify and report the veteran's physical and emotional reactions to treatment and nursing care. Verbally provide veteran information to the licensed staff for inclusion in the nursing care plan. Enter information about the veteran's condition in the veteran's written and/or electronic records following Patient Care Services (PCS) policies. Communicate effectively with Veterans, families, interdisciplinary team members and other staff personnel. Act in a professional manner as a role model for peers. Serve as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with employee orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting. Maintain appropriate and professional boundaries with patients and their families. Communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to meet APU objectives. Instruct Veterans on the veteran's role in various tests, such as x-rays, covering information previously supplied by the doctor or nurse. Instructs veteran on the set up and purpose of treatment supported by auxiliary equipment such as oxygen and suction. Supports Veteran teaching based on evidence-based, general information covered with the veteran previously by either the doctor or nurse. Utilize Veteran teaching opportunities with awareness of psychiatric treatment goals. Identify teaching needs and institute approaches to meet these. Provide restorative care and therapeutic activities based on the APU goals. Recognize and react to emergent Veteran care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance. For example, recognize the need for basic life support, control bleeding and assist with behavior crisis. Participate in mandatory education classes. Display courteous verbal and non-verbal communication to veterans, staff, and visitors. Utilize proper telephone etiquette at all times. Is dependable, report on and off duty on-time. Report to charge nurse when leaving ward for any reason. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 12-hour shifts, variable nights Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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) 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. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a trial period. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. 1) Six 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. 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. 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. GRADE REQUIREMENTS. Creditable Experience. 1) Knowledge of Current Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice. 2) Quality of Experience. To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. 3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-3 NA (Entry Level). Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. 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, 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). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. 2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. 3. 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. 4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level). Experience. 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs below. 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 KSAs. 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. REFERENCE: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), heavy carrying (45 pounds and over), straight pulling (3 hours), pulling hand over hand (3 hours), pushing (3 hours), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (12 hours), standing (12 hours), crawling (3 hours), kneeling (3 hours), repeated bending (3 hours), climbing (3 hours), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors include outside and inside, excessive noise (intermittent), slippery or uneven walking surfaces, and working closely with others. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.