Nursing Assistant - Community Living Center

Veterans Health Administration • Fargo, ND

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This Nursing Assistant position is located at the Fargo VA Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota, within the Rehabilitation and Extended Care Integrated Clinical Community. The role is assigned to the Community Living Center, caring for Veterans with acute, sub-acute, or chronic illnesses. It involves nursing care requiring knowledge of physical and behavioral concepts, individualized care, and understanding of complex resident treatment regimens.

The position provides hands-on resident care and supports nurses and other clinicians with observations, monitoring, treatments, procedures, documentation, and transportation. The stated work schedule is 0600–1430 and 1530–2400, with rotating weekends and holidays. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for eligible, highly qualified applicants, subject to a service agreement; relocation assistance is not authorized. The position is not virtual, and telework is unavailable. The full performance level is GS-5, with selection at GS-3 to GS-5.

The position requires U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, Basic Life Support certification (training is provided), participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program, and successful completion of a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination. A trial period of one or two years applies. Candidates must meet the applicable Nursing Assistant experience, education, or training requirements for the grade sought.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification; training is provided.
• Meet one of the basic qualification pathways: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire Nursing Assistant skills; one year of post-high-school education with related courses; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training program of less than one year.
• For GS-4, meet either one year of Nursing Assistant or related medical-field experience performing relevant technical and nursing skills, or two years of post-high-school education in a relevant field; also demonstrate the stated patient-care, observation and reporting, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-5, meet either one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 with relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities, or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree including 24 semester hours of health-care-related courses, or possession of a bachelor's degree; also demonstrate the stated nursing-care, communication and preceptor, and emergency-response abilities.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Complete required background/security investigation and online onboarding; comply with drug-testing requirements for positions designated for testing.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete all application requirements, including relevant transcripts or proof of enrollment when relying on education or training to qualify.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Long-term care experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist with care of acutely ill and more complex residents.
• Observe residents for subtle changes in condition and report findings to a registered nurse.
• Observe residents for appropriate oxygen administration and perform pulse oximeter readings.
• Assist nurses or providers with wound care.
• Reinforce resident teaching.
• Participate in mandatory reviews, unit meetings, and in-services.
• Manage indwelling urinary catheter bags, including emptying them and recording and reporting urine output to the nurse.
• Perform and record blood glucose monitoring and report findings to the nurse.
• Provide one-to-one sitter coverage.
• Obtain and record temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respirations, pulse oximetry, height, and weight.
• Remove heparin locks and urinary catheters when competency requirements are met.
• Ensure correct placement of oxygen via nasal cannula or mask.
• Perform EKGs.
• Exchange oxygen tanks.
• Transport residents to tests and procedures as directed.
• Assist with monitoring and documenting restraints as directed.
• Maintain and stock unit supplies as directed.
• Perform assigned treatments and procedures and use and reprocess reusable medical equipment appropriate to assigned duties.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with 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 income, child eligibility, and monthly maximum 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.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized for eligible, highly qualified applicants, subject to a service agreement.

What This Job Offers

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