Nursing Assistant (Long Term Care)

Veterans Health Administration • Bath, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant (NA) provides care to patients and residents with acute to chronic conditions in a health care setting. The position offers opportunities to develop basic nursing assistant skills. Under the direction of a licensed health care provider, the NA performs activities of daily living and provides care that contributes to each Veteran’s treatment plan, recovery, and wellness. Duties are completed under close supervision, with appropriate training and demonstrated competencies for assigned tasks. The full performance level is GS-05; the selection grade range is GS-03 to GS-05.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet one of the basic qualification pathways: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire NA skills; one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the NA occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related NA training program of less than one year. A specified grandfathering provision may apply to qualifying current VHA employees.
• For GS-4, meet either one year of NA or other medical-field experience performing technical and nursing skills, or two years of post-high-school education with relevant courses; also demonstrate the listed GS-4 knowledge, skills, and abilities in patient care, observation and timely referral, equipment use, and communication.
• For GS-5, meet either one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 with relevant nursing-care knowledge, skills, and abilities, or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of health-care-related courses, or a bachelor's degree; also demonstrate the listed GS-5 knowledge, skills, and abilities in nursing care, communication and precepting, and responding to emergent care situations.
• Pass the required pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Selected applicants for testing-designated VA employment are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Pass a background/security investigation and complete online onboarding and application requirements, including acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for VA health care personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and written certification requirements.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Nice To Haves

• Long-term care experience.

Responsibilities

• Use a glucose monitoring machine appropriately to collect and document glucose readings for assigned Veterans.
• Maintain therapeutic relationships by treating patients, families, and significant others with respect and using learned communication skills.
• Collect, report, and record patient or resident observations.
• Learn and perform aspects of nursing care under close supervision and preceptor guidance, including personal hygiene, physical comfort, activity, exercise, rest, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, and rehabilitative care.
• Use proper body mechanics and follow patient-care equipment procedures, including use of lifting equipment, to prevent injury.
• Report patient observations to the RN and/or other members of the treatment team.
• Learn to set up patient-care-related equipment.
• Organize and obtain routine supplies and equipment.
• Assist with orienting patients and families to unit routines and policies.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special 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.
• Possible credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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