Nursing Assistant-Nursing Acute Care A1

Veterans Health Administration • West Roxbury, MA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This full-time Nursing Assistant position serves the Acute Care Nursing Service Unit A1 at the Boston VA Healthcare System’s West Roxbury, Massachusetts campus. The position is full-time nights, 40 hours per week, with rotation of weekends and holidays. The Nursing Assistant supports licensed nursing staff and other care team members in caring for outpatient Veterans. Work is performed under the close supervision and direction of a Registered Nurse, and questions or issues are referred to supervisors or other healthcare professionals. Duties may vary depending on grade and assignment.

The full performance level is GS-05, and applicants may be selected at GS-03 through GS-05. Promotion to the full performance level may be possible without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met; selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion. The position is not eligible for telework, is not virtual, and does not authorize compressed or flexible scheduling. Travel to other VA campuses and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics may be required.

Benefits described include 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual and sick leave and 11 paid federal holidays; up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment; potential childcare subsidy eligibility for qualifying full-time employees after 60 days; a federal pension and 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions; and federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance. The position is in the Excepted Service and is covered by a special rate.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Basic qualification: six months of general experience demonstrating the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform Nursing Assistant work; or one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the occupation; or qualifying intensive, specialized occupation-related training of less than one year for GS-3.
• For GS-4: one year of specialized Nursing Assistant experience or experience in another medical field performing relevant technical and nursing skills; or two years of post-high-school education in a related field, plus the specified patient-care, observation, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-5: one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4; or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree that included 24 semester hours of healthcare-related courses, or a bachelor’s degree, plus the specified nursing-care, communication/precepting, and emergency-response abilities.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and applicable background/security investigation; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
• Meet annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete the required online onboarding and application documentation; serve a one- or two-year trial period as a condition of employment.
• Meet the position’s physical requirements, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and the ability to perform prolonged walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, and patient or object transfers.
• Be able to work effectively in stressful situations, shift priorities based on patient needs, and potentially work with infected patients, contaminated materials, and occasionally combative patients.

Responsibilities

• Accurately take, record, and report vital signs.
• Assist with activities of daily living and treatments, including bowel and bladder management, feeding, and repositioning.
• Assist with Hoyer lift transfers and wheelchair use.
• Provide a safe environment, conduct hourly rounds, and perform care or other duties as directed by Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, or providers.
• Initiate emergency action in life-threatening situations, including cardiac or respiratory arrest, massive bleeding, shock, or assaultive behavior, and immediately alert licensed personnel.
• Perform EKGs.
• Document activities-of-daily-living care provided.
• Obtain, label, and prepare specimens for transport and testing.
• Perform point-of-care testing.
• Clean and disinfect rooms and medical equipment after patient use.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 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.
• Potential 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.
• Potential childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility requirements.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• 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