Nursing Assistant-Geriatric Extended Care

Veterans Health Administration • Perry Point, MD

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Geriatric Extended Care Nursing Assistant (NA) provides care to Veterans with physical and/or behavioral health issues and supports licensed nursing staff in preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. The NA develops skills to participate in assessing, implementing, and evaluating nursing care. Duties are performed under close supervision and with appropriate training.

The position involves direct care for complex Veterans, monitoring and documenting their condition and care, performing procedures within the NA's scope of practice, supporting individualized treatment plans and resident independence, and contributing to a clean and safe care environment. The NA also participates in care planning and team activities, supports safe patient handling, mentors and orients other staff, and responds to disruptive behavior and emergencies.

This is a permanent position with a schedule of 80 hours biweekly, including alternating weekends and holidays. Telework and virtual work are not authorized. The full performance level is GS-05; selection may be at GS-03 through GS-05. The position is in the Excepted Service and requires a two-year trial period. Recruitment/relocation incentives and permanent change of station assistance are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the Nursing Assistant basic experience, education, or training requirement: six months of general experience; or one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the NA occupation; or an intensive, specialized, occupation-related NA course of study lasting less than one year.
• For GS-4, meet the specified qualification pathway: one year of specialized NA or related medical-field experience, or successful completion of two years above high school in relevant coursework, and demonstrate the required patient care, observation, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-5, meet the specified qualification pathway: one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4, or a qualifying bachelor's degree and the required nursing-care, communication/preceptor, and emergency-response abilities.
• Pass the required pre-employment evaluation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Complete the required background/security investigation and online onboarding process.
• Meet identification and application-document requirements, including REAL ID-compliant identification where applicable.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment after the trial period.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience working in long-term care and dementia/geriatric-psychiatric care.
• One year of med-surg experience.
• Current VHA employees in this occupation may qualify under the applicable grandfathering provision.

Responsibilities

• Use a glucose monitoring machine to obtain Veterans' glucose readings and refer deviations to appropriate health care staff.
• Provide direct care for complex Veterans.
• Observe subtle changes in residents' conditions, including behavior, mood, skin color, and appetite, and take appropriate action within the NA's assigned role.
• Document care, observations, responses, and resident condition using appropriate forms and charting formats.
• Respond to subtle patient changes by contacting appropriate nursing personnel.
• Provide complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitor and document patient intake and output, reporting deviations accurately and promptly.
• Perform procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures, including enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressings, and applying braces and prosthetic devices.
• Work with Veterans/residents in small-group activities according to their treatment plans.
• Respect residents' autonomy and promote independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Participate actively in treatment planning meetings and provide patient information to the treatment team for care planning.
• Use equipment to promote Veteran self-care, including lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and the Veteran/Resident Wandering System.
• Help maintain a clean and safe environment; remove defective equipment, report hazards, observe safety regulations, contribute to infection control, and use proper aseptic technique.
• Serve as the unit safe patient handling liaison.
• Serve as a preceptor and mentor to other Nursing Assistants.
• Orient health care team members to the units as appropriate.
• Function as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Manage disruptive patient behavior, intervene appropriately, and request assistance from other health care members.
• Initiate basic life support and take appropriate action in emergencies.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on 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.
• Selected applicants may qualify for annual leave accrual credit based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility requirements.
• 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: No Education Listed