Nursing Assistant (Acute Care)

Veterans Health Administration • Wilkes Barre, PA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant works in Acute Care as a member of the nursing care team, assisting licensed nursing staff and other care team members in providing care to veterans with sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice needs. The role involves assignments with complex nursing needs, referring questions and issues to supervisors or higher-graded nursing assistants, and serving as a peer educator or mentor.

The Nursing Assistant provides direct care, observes and responds to changes in patients’ conditions, documents care and observations, supports patient safety, and contributes information to care planning. The position also includes helping with group activities, maintaining a clean and safe care environment, orienting health care team members, and responding to urgent situations, including initiating basic life support.

The work schedule is either 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. or 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., with rotating odd tours, including weekends and holidays. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual. The full-performance level is GS-5; applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-5.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• 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 course of study lasting less than one year. A stated grandfathering provision may also apply to qualifying current VHA employees.
• For GS-4 qualification, either one year of specialized Nursing Assistant experience or related medical-field experience performing technical and nursing skills; or two years of post-high-school education in a related accredited program. GS-4 candidates must demonstrate the stated abilities in patient care, observation and timely referral, use of equipment and supplies for simple diagnostic and treatment procedures, and communication.
• For GS-5 qualification, either one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 or a qualifying four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree that included 24 semester hours related to health care, or possession of a bachelor’s degree. GS-5 candidates must demonstrate the stated abilities in nursing care, communication and precepting, and recognizing and responding to emergent situations.
• Pass the required pre-employment evaluation and applicable background/security investigation and drug screening.
• Comply with the VA seasonal influenza vaccination requirement for health care personnel.
• Complete the required onboarding and application documentation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period if appointed.
• Education used to qualify must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and from an accredited institution; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care for veterans with complex care needs.
• Observe subtle changes in patients’ conditions, including behavior, mood, skin color, and appetite, and take appropriate action within the assigned role.
• Document care provided, observations, and patient responses using appropriate forms or charting formats.
• Report changes in patients’ conditions to appropriate nursing personnel.
• Monitor veterans at risk of harming themselves or others according to established policies and procedures, and refer concerns to the charge nurse or another health care professional.
• Conduct small-group activities with veterans or residents according to their treatment plans.
• Verbally provide patient information to the treatment team for care planning and participate in treatment team meetings.
• Help maintain a clean and safe patient or resident environment.
• Serve as a preceptor and mentor to other Nursing Assistants and orient health care team members to the unit as appropriate.
• Manage and appropriately intervene in patient behavior, requesting assistance from other health care team members when needed.
• Initiate basic life support and take appropriate action in urgent patient-care situations.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 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 for qualifying birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a child care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility 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 may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED