Nursing Assistant- Hospitality/Orderly

Veterans Health Administration • Phoenix, AZ

2d

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant (NA) works as a member of the nursing care team, assisting licensed nursing staff with preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care for patients and residents. Assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs that may range from predictable to unpredictable. At the full-performance level, the NA also supports peer education and mentorship.

The role includes observing and reporting physical, behavioral, and emotional changes; obtaining vital signs and glucose readings; assisting with activities of daily living, rehabilitative care, and therapeutic activities; and supporting patient comfort, safety, privacy, independence, and recovery. The NA maintains and sets up patient-care equipment, obtains routine supplies, assists with patient transfers and transport, and works cooperatively with the interdisciplinary team.

This is a full-time position with a stated schedule of 0630–1500. The tour may change based on facility needs. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The position may require flexibility in schedule and assignments.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointment when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the basic experience or education requirement through one of the following: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire NA knowledge and skills; one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the NA occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related NA training course of less than one year. The stated grandfathering provision may also apply to qualifying current VHA employees.
• For GS-4 qualification, one year of specialized NA experience or experience in another medical field performing technical and nursing skills, or successful completion of two years of post-high-school education in an appropriate field; GS-4 candidates must also demonstrate the listed patient-care, observation and referral, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-5 qualification, one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 with 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-related courses or possession of a bachelor’s degree; GS-5 candidates must demonstrate the listed nursing-care, communication and preceptor, and emergency-response abilities.
• Complete required pre-employment procedures, including background/security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, and required onboarding and identification documentation.
• Selected employees must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including patient care and potentially prolonged walking, standing, or sitting; moderate lifting; repeated bending or kneeling; and safe patient handling and mobility tasks.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience as a healthcare provider or nursing assistant, including acute-care and/or long-term-care experience.
• Nursing Assistant (CNA/LNA) and/or Medical Assistant training or certification.
• Demonstrated ability to provide safe, compassionate, patient-centered care; familiarity with supporting nursing workflows; commitment to shared decision-making; and active participation in a positive, team-based practice environment (Pathway to Excellence Journey).

Responsibilities

• Accurately identify and report patients’ physical signs, symptoms, changes, and complaints outside the NA’s scope to the RN or supervisor.
• Initiate trained emergency procedures and report actual or potential workplace safety hazards.
• Monitor Veterans at risk of harming themselves or others according to established procedures, and refer concerns to the charge nurse or another health care professional.
• Observe subtle changes in residents’ condition, including behavior, mood, skin color, and appetite, and respond within the assigned role by contacting appropriate nursing personnel.
• Obtain patients’ vital signs, identify obvious discrepancies, and report them to the RN or supervisor.
• Assist assigned patients with activities of daily living.
• Contribute information and suggestions to patient-centered conferences and treatment-planning meetings.
• Learn to use a glucose-monitoring machine and collect and document glucose readings for assigned Veterans.
• Use rehabilitative principles to promote independence and recovery, including encouraging and guiding bowel and bladder training.
• Promote therapeutic relationships and respect for the dignity of patients, families, significant others, and staff through appropriate communication.
• Collect, report, and record patient and resident observations.
• Provide care addressing personal hygiene, physical comfort, activity and exercise, rest, nutrition, elimination, skin-breakdown prevention, rehabilitation, and mental well-being.
• Participate in group activities, including off-station trips, reality orientation, current events, and other therapeutic groups, under direction and close supervision.
• Report patient observations to the RN and other treatment-team members.
• Maintain and set up patient-care equipment, and organize and obtain routine supplies and equipment.
• Help orient patients and families to unit routines and policies.
• Work cooperatively and courteously as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Protect patient privacy and confidential information.
• Monitor patients according to assigned observation levels, including one-to-one suicide observation, continuous observation, 15-minute checks, and hourly rounding.
• Follow safety procedures, use appropriate protective clothing and equipment, and use patient-care equipment and supplies according to procedures to prevent injury.
• Use proper body mechanics and adjust patient-care techniques appropriately.
• Assist with patient transfers and transport.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Selected applicants may request consideration of prior work or military service for annual-leave accrual credit; approval is not guaranteed and must occur before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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