Nursing Assistant (Inpatient Community Living Center - Long Term Care)

Veterans Health Administration • Bedford, MA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant position is in Nursing Service at the Inpatient Community Living Center – Long Term Care at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center in Bedford, Massachusetts. The announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. The units operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the position is full-time at 40 hours per week. Multiple tours are available; shifts may include days with rotation, evenings, or nights, as well as weekends and holidays. The assigned shift may change based on patient and facility needs.

The Nursing Assistant provides direct care to veterans and residents in a long-term care setting, observes and reports changes in their condition, documents care, and supports individualized treatment and care planning. The role includes performing nursing procedures within the scope of practice, supporting resident autonomy and independence, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and assisting with patient behavior and emergencies. The employee may also serve as a safe patient handling liaison, preceptor, and mentor.

The position requires U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, background/security screening, a pre-employment physical, and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program. A one- or two-year trial period applies. The position is excepted service and the full performance level is GS-05; selections may be made at GS-03 through GS-05.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Six months of general experience demonstrating the ability to acquire Nursing Assistant knowledge and skills; or one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training program of less than one year. A specified grandfathering provision may also apply to eligible current VHA employees.
• For GS-4 consideration: one year of specialized Nursing Assistant experience or experience in another medical field involving technical and nursing skills, or two years of relevant post-high-school education, plus the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-5 consideration: one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 with directly related knowledge, skills, and abilities, or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree that included 24 semester hours of health care courses, or a bachelor’s degree, plus the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Ability to provide patient or resident care and contribute to nursing care plans and recovery, as applicable to the grade requirements.
• Ability to observe physical or emotional status and promptly refer deviations or problems to a supervisor, as applicable to the grade requirements.
• Ability to use equipment, materials, and supplies for basic and intermediate diagnostic and treatment procedures, as applicable to the grade requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients or residents, families, interdisciplinary teams, and other health professionals.
• Ability to recognize and respond to emergencies, including needs for basic life support, bleeding control, or assistance with behavioral crises.
• Subject to urinalysis screening for illegal drug use if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation and online onboarding requirements.
• Must provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; as of May 7, 2025, non-REAL ID-compliant state identification cannot be used as acceptable employment identification.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and meet annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Physical requirements include visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity; potentially prolonged walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; and possible transfer of patients and objects.
• May be exposed to infected patients, contaminated materials, isolation or operative/invasive procedures requiring protective clothing, and occasionally combative patients.
• Must be mature, flexible, sensible, and able to work effectively under stress and shift priorities based on patient needs.

Responsibilities

• Use a glucose monitoring machine to obtain veterans’ glucose readings and refer deviations to appropriate health care staff.
• Observe and act within the Nursing Assistant’s assigned role when residents show changes in behavior, mood, skin coloring, appetite, or other aspects of their condition.
• Document care provided, observations, responses, and resident condition in appropriate forms and chart formats.
• Contact appropriate nursing personnel when patient changes are observed.
• Provide complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitor and document patient intake and output, and report deviations promptly and accurately.
• Perform nursing procedures within scope of practice and established policies, including enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressings, and application of braces and prosthetic devices.
• Lead or support small-group activities in accordance with veterans’ and residents’ treatment plans.
• Recognize resident autonomy and promote independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Participate in treatment planning meetings and provide resident information to the treatment team for care planning.
• Use equipment that promotes 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, follow 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 and orient health care team members to the unit as appropriate.
• Function as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Manage patient behavior and intervene appropriately, requesting assistance from other health care team members when needed.
• 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, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Possible annual leave accrual credit for prior work or military service, subject to request and 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 with total family income below $144,000 may qualify after 60 days for a child care subsidy of up to 25% of eligible costs, subject to the monthly maximum and eligibility rules.
• 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 may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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