Nursing Assistant- Long Term Care

Veterans Health Administration • Martinsburg, WV

16h • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant provides direct physical and emotional care to veterans and residents in long-term care settings, including sitter/transport, home-like long-term care, and dementia care units. The role supports residents’ autonomy and independence, contributes to individualized treatment plans, and helps improve quality of life for chronically ill and dying patients. The position works under the direction and supervision of licensed nursing staff and may perform more complex nursing care treatments as directed. The full performance level is GS-05; the actual selection grade may range from GS-03 to GS-05. The announcement is open continuously until December 28, 2026, with an initial application referral cutoff of November 2, 2026.

The work schedule includes multiple tours, with holiday and weekend rotation, including every other weekend and holidays as needed. The supervisor determines the tour of duty. This is not a telework or virtual position. The position requires a pre-employment physical, annual employee-health requirements such as TB screening or testing, and may involve exposure to infected patients, contaminated materials, protective clothing, and patients who may be combative due to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. A one- or two-year trial period is required.

Requirements

• Meet one basic qualification pathway: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire nursing-assistant knowledge and 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.
• Be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• For GS-4 qualification by experience: one year of specialized nursing-assistant experience or experience in another medical field performing technical and nursing skills requiring knowledge of human physical and emotional states, therapeutic communication, and basic and intermediate treatments; alternatively, two years of post-high-school education in a relevant field.
• For GS-4, demonstrate ability to provide patient/resident care and contribute to nursing care plans and recovery; observe physical or emotional status and report deviations; properly use equipment and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures; and communicate effectively with patients, families, and health professionals.
• For GS-5 qualification by experience: one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4, including work as part of a nursing care team assisting licensed staff with nursing care in outpatient, home, community-living, or other care settings; alternatively, a four-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree with 24 semester hours of health-care-related courses, or possession of a bachelor’s degree.
• For GS-5, demonstrate ability to assist with the full range of nursing care for patients with physical and/or behavioral problems under RN and/or LVN/LPN direction; communicate orally with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and other personnel, including precepting new nursing assistants; and recognize and respond to emergencies while waiting for assistance.
• Be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Pass required pre-employment urinalysis, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation/examination; complete online onboarding and required application documentation.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual employee-health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Meet physical requirements including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and the ability to walk, stand, stoop, sit, bend, pull, push, and transfer patients or objects; work effectively in stressful situations and shift priorities based on patient needs.

Nice To Haves

• VA experience.
• Long-term care experience.
• Nursing assistant experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures, including enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressing, and application of braces and prosthetic devices.
• Conduct small-group activities with veterans and residents in accordance with treatment plans.
• Respect residents’ autonomy and promote independence through respectful care, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Provide grooming, feeding, elimination, and psychosocial care to chronically ill and/or dying patients.
• Advocate for patients to ensure they receive necessary care efficiently.
• Participate actively in treatment-planning meetings.
• Use equipment to promote veteran self-care, including lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and the Veteran/Resident Wandering System.
• Document residents’ conditions in charts using appropriate formats.
• Help maintain a clean and safe environment; remove defective equipment, report hazards, follow safety regulations, contribute to infection control, and use proper aseptic technique.
• Serve as the unit safe patient handling liaison.
• Precept and mentor other nursing assistants, share knowledge and skills in observation, communication, intervention, and documentation, and orient new employees and other health care team members to the unit as appropriate.
• Serve as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Manage distributed patient behavior and care, intervene appropriately, and request assistance from other health care team members when needed.
• Recognize medical and psychiatric emergencies, summon professional assistance, and initiate basic life support and other appropriate actions.
• Perform more complex medical nursing care treatments under RN direction and supervision, including pressure-ulcer prevention, observation, and treatment from Stage I through Stage IV.
• Assist licensed staff with bladder scanning and continence training.
• Follow universal precautions and demonstrate competence in isolation, infection-control, and tuberculosis policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• A higher step rate within the appropriate grade may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• After 60 days of employment, eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 may qualify for a child-care subsidy covering up to 25% of eligible child-care costs, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed