Nursing Assistant-Acute Care-Community Living Center

Veterans Health Administration • Washington, DC

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant will develop skills in order to participate in assessing, implementing, and evaluating nursing care by the following listed below, however, the responsibilities will be completed under close supervision at all times as well as with appropriate training. This role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs, or other healthcare professionals. This position is in Acute Care (Community Living Center).

Requirements

• 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.
• You may be required to serve a trial period.
• 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 evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• 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.
• Education or Training. Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA.
• OR One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation.
• OR 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.
• GS-3 NA(Entry Level) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4 NA 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 Education: Successful completion of 2 years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care, healthcare 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.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). Ability to provide arrange of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
• Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
• 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.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.
• GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level). 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.
• OR 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;
• Demonstrated KSAs. 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date oft his qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Two years of inpatient or long-term care experience

Responsibilities

• Identifies the needs of patients and performs a range of personal nursing care duties which include feeding, bathing, oral hygiene, nail care, hair care, and related personal hygiene duties.
• Application and care of external catheter.
• Provides post-mortem care.
• Utilizes proper body mechanics to move, lift and transfer patients.
• Maintains clean and neat environment for patients including cleaning of patient's room after bed bath and after discharge when necessary, keeping utility rooms, supply rooms, nurse servers, coffee rooms, bathrooms, and nutrition kitchens in order.
• Answers patient's calls expediently.
• Assists and/or escorts selected patients by minibus, car, and ambulance to and from hospital, Community Living Centers, etc.
• Assists patients in use of ADL devices.
• Provides indwelling catheter care according to procedure.
• Assists with orientation of new patients to the unit and inspects their personal belonging in accordance with Medical Center Memorandum as directed by the professional nurse.
• Performs enteral tube feedings (gastrostomy tube and naso-gastric tube feedings.)
• Gives individual care and attention to critically ill, emotionally unstable, and patients with multiple complex problems.
• Demonstrates support of individual patient choices, dignity, autonomy, and preferred routines. (for example, allows patient to choose preferred bathing time, bedtime)
• Encourages patients to increase their physical and emotional independence by giving, directing, instructing, and supervising them in their care.
• Participates in developing the plan of care for individual patients during team conferences.
• Offers emotional support to the dying patient and/or family members.
• Performs a variety of supporting diagnostic duties which includes taking, recording, and reporting to the team leader deviation in vital signs, collecting, labeling, and taking specimens to the Laboratory.
• Initiates CPR and/or Heimlich maneuver when such life-saving techniques are indicated.
• Observes patients receiving IV solutions for obvious infiltration of solution and/or low solution level in bottle and discontinues IVs at the direction of the professional nurse.
• Assembles oxygen equipment, identifies amount of oxygen in cylinders when appropriate, and provides continuity of oxygen therapy as directed by the professional nurse.
• Uses principles of aseptic techniques to apply and remove sterile dressings as directed by the professional nurse.
• Assists with orientation of new patients and staff to the unit.
• Demonstrates and maintains patient privacy, courteous, prompt, and helpful interactions in personal and telephone encounters with patients, visitors, and staff.
• Upon certification, performs 12-lead EKGs.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
• Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

What This Job Offers

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