Nursing Assistant-Acute Care

Veterans Health Administration • Baltimore, MD

12h • Onsite

About The Position

The VA Maryland Health Care System is hiring a Nursing Assistant to provide care to patients and residents with acute to chronic conditions in a health care setting. This position is located in Baltimore, Maryland. The Nursing Assistant supports licensed nursing staff in providing preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. The vacancy’s full performance level is GS-05, with selection possible at GS-03 through GS-05.

The role uses a team nursing approach on an assigned patient area. The Nursing Assistant helps maintain a therapeutic, respectful environment, contributes to patient-centered care planning and shift reports, supports patient independence and recovery, monitors patient status and safety, and provides direct physical and emotional care. Work schedules listed are 3:30 p.m.–12:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.–8:00 a.m., evenings/nights. This is a permanent, non-virtual position; telework is unavailable.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Meet the basic qualification requirement through one of the following: six months of general experience; one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training course or program of less than one year.
• For GS-4 consideration, meet the applicable experience or education pathway and demonstrate ability to provide patient/resident care and contribute to care plans; observe physical or emotional status and promptly report deviations; properly use equipment and supplies for basic and intermediate diagnostic or treatment procedures; and communicate effectively with patients, families, and health professionals.
• For GS-5 consideration, meet the applicable experience or education pathway and demonstrate ability to assist with the full range of nursing care under a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse; communicate orally with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and other personnel, including serving as a preceptor to new Nursing Assistants; and recognize and respond to emergent care situations while awaiting assistance.
• Complete required background/security investigation, online onboarding, and pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Complete application requirements listed in the announcement’s Required Documents section.
• Serve a two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment at its conclusion.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of acute care experience.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Certified Nursing Assistant.

Responsibilities

• Use a glucose monitoring machine to collect and document appropriate glucose readings for assigned Veterans.
• Provide care on an assigned patient area using a team nursing approach.
• Build and maintain positive therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and significant others, showing respect for human dignity and using effective communication.
• Use proper body mechanics when caring for patients.
• Maintain a therapeutic patient environment by reporting actual or potential accidents, fire hazards, and faulty equipment according to procedures and policies.
• Participate in patient-centered conferences and shift reports, contributing information to development and review of nursing care plans.
• Use rehabilitative principles to promote patient independence and recovery, including encouraging and guiding patients in bowel and bladder training.
• Monitor Veterans who may be at risk of harming themselves or others, follow established procedures, and refer concerns to the charge nurse or another health care professional.
• Set up patient-care equipment, including hypothermia machines, oxygen delivery systems, and portable and wall suction, and assist in monitoring equipment function.
• Provide physical and emotional care to chronically ill or dying patients, including grooming, feeding, elimination, and psychosocial needs.
• Enter information about residents’ conditions in the chart using appropriate formats.
• Perform other duties related to the occupation as assigned to meet agency, department, facility, or service needs.

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, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with 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 limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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