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Summary These positions are responsible for the nursing assistant duties, includes acute and close observation, taking and documenting vital signs, collecting lab specimens including phlebotomy and capillary blood glucose checks, passing and picking up meal trays, tracking and documenting intake and output, assisting with transporting of patients/residents, and duties as assigned by the Supervisor or designee. Responsibilities The position requires the ability to work alternate schedules during evenings, nights, weekends, weekdays, holidays, and may alternate schedules to ensure adequate coverage of support functions. Employee performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, outstanding customer service, and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the Veterans, their families, and internal and external stakeholders. Employee actively supports the team concept and functions as a team player, working collaboratively across service and care lines to accomplish the mission of the facility and service. The incumbent contributes to team initiatives and continuously strives to improve the effectiveness of the team. Employee works effectively with others, recognizing emergency situations, and acts appropriately. The position includes responsibility for coverage of medical support assistant (MSA) duties in the absence of the MSA or during times of high need as determined by the Supervisor or designee. FUNCTIONS OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: Personal Veteran Care: (Critical Element) Performance Standards: 1. Performs a wide variety of nursing duties aimed at increasing the safety, comfort, and spirit of the Veteran while following established policies and procedures. 2. Identifies and reports data relative to more complex Veteran situations, including subtle changes in Veteran's behavior or condition or variances related to neurological signs, vital signs, and other parameters. 3. The incumbent monitors vital signs, completes clinical reminders, and documents appropriately. 4. Documents in the Veteran medical record a daily outline or summary of the Veteran care using the approved format, including situation-background-actions-response (SBAR) hand-off and appropriate templates. 5. The incumbent can perform varied functions depending on the-patient clinical area. These functions may include: 5.1. Inpatient Care: 5.1.1. Assists with monitoring patients, maintaining a safe milieu, measuring vital signs, documenting in the Veteran's medical records, and communicating any urgent concerns to the charge nurse. 5.1.2. Assists with medical emergencies on the unit. 5.1.3. Observe and report any changes in patient behavior, attitude, physical complaints, and appearance to the charge nurse. 5.1.4. Assists in maintaining a safe, therapeutic milieu for the Veterans on the APU. 5.1.5. Maintains routine equipment and supplies, notifying the charge nurse of equipment concerns. 5.2. Phlebotomy/ Specimen Collection: 5.2.1. Must be proficient in phlebotomy, draw all but the most difficult patients, and follow laboratory procedures for drawing blood. In addition, develops and maintains the essential speed required to complete blood drawing duties promptly. 5.2.2. The work environment involves a low to moderate frequency/high risk of exposure to potentially dangerous situations, such as infectious diseases and demented and suicidal/homicidal patients, with associated risks. The incumbent may encounter situations where a physical attack by patients requires safety training, specifically prevention and management of disruptive behavior. Redirection, intervention, and mitigation of behaviors from patients may be required. 5.2.3. Basic laboratory procedures such as dip sticking of urines may be performed. This includes entering results into the patient's Electronic Health Record (EHR). 5.2.4. Receives all requests for testing in the laboratory through order entry. Verifies the accuracy and completeness of the request by interacting with facility personnel (clerks, nurses, physicians) to correct discrepancies. 5.2.5. Accesses printed and electronic files containing sensitive data that must be protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes, and policies. Work Schedule: Intermittent - Various Shifts Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized 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. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: 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. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications 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. [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. 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). Grade Determinations: s. 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) (a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. GS-4 NA (a) 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, (b) 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 (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. ii Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. iii 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. iv Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level) (a) 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 in subparagraph (c) below; OR, (b) 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 (c) Demonstrated KSAs. i 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. ii 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. iii 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: Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. 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.