Nursing Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Ann Arbor, MI

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant works in the Associate Director of Patient Care Service and is a member of the nursing care team. The role assists licensed nursing staff in caring for patients and residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. The position performs patient care activities under the close supervision and direction of licensed health care providers, contributing to Veterans’ treatment plans, recovery, and wellness.

The vacancy is full-time and works 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on a block schedule, including alternating weekends and holidays. The full-performance level is GS-5; applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-5. The position is not virtual, and telework is unavailable.

Requirements

• Meet the citizenship requirements for federal employment; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Meet one of the basic experience or education pathways: six months of general experience demonstrating the ability to acquire Nursing Assistant skills; one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training program of less than one year.
• For GS-4 consideration, have one year of specialized Nursing Assistant or related medical-field experience performing technical and nursing skills, or two years of relevant post-high-school education; also demonstrate the stated patient-care, observation and reporting, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-5 consideration, have one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4, or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with 24 semester hours related to health care or a bachelor’s degree; also demonstrate the stated nursing-care, communication and preceptor, and emergency-response abilities.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and any required drug screening.
• Complete the required background/security investigation, onboarding, and application documentation.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment after the trial period.
• Meet the position’s physical requirements, which may include prolonged walking, standing, or sitting; moderate lifting; repeated bending or kneeling; and direct patient care.

Responsibilities

• Use a glucose monitoring machine to collect and document glucose readings for assigned Veterans.
• Maintain respectful, therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and significant others using appropriate communication skills.
• Observe patients and residents, collect data, and report and record observations.
• Perform activities of daily living and other nursing care that contributes to treatment, recovery, and wellness under a licensed provider’s direction.
• Perform and document prescribed treatments and interventions, including diabetic urine and blood testing and simple dressing changes.
• Use rehabilitative principles to promote independence and recovery, including guiding patients in bowel and bladder training.
• Participate in therapeutic group activities, such as off-station trips, reality orientation, and current-events groups, under direction and close supervision.
• Monitor patients according to observation levels, including one-to-one suicide observation, continuous observation, 15-minute checks, and hourly rounding.
• Monitor Veterans who may be at risk of harming themselves or others, follow established procedures, and refer concerns to the charge nurse or another health care professional.
• Use proper body mechanics when caring for patients.
• Report patient status to the RN and document pertinent observations in the medical record according to established procedures.
• Set up patient-care equipment, including hypothermia machines, oxygen delivery systems, and portable or wall suction, and assist in monitoring its proper functioning.
• Organize and obtain routine supplies and equipment.
• Assist with patient education, including orienting patients and families to unit routines and policies.
• Work cooperatively and courteously as a member of the interdisciplinary team.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for qualifying birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees, subject to income and other eligibility criteria.
• Traditional federal pension after five years of vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED