Nursing Assistant

Veterans Health Administration•Portland, OR

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant (NA) works as a member of the nursing care team, assisting licensed nursing staff in caring for patients and residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. Assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs that may range from predictable to unpredictable. At this level, the NA also takes on peer education and mentorship duties. The full performance level is GS-5; selection may be at GS-3 through GS-5. The position is in the Excepted Service and requires a 1- or 2-year trial period. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, with schedules of 0730–1600, 0730–1700, or 0800–1630. Compressed or flexible scheduling and telework are not available; this is not a virtual position. Applicants must meet the applicable federal qualification requirements. Basic eligibility may be met through six months of general experience, one year of relevant education above high school, or an intensive occupation-related training program of less than one year. Grade-specific requirements vary from entry-level GS-3 to full-performance GS-5. Preferred experience includes outpatient clinical work, dermatology clinic experience, and wound care. The position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and the ability to perform extended periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Patient or object transfers may be required. The work may involve exposure to infectious patients, contaminated materials, isolation or operative/invasive procedures, and occasionally combative patients. Annual employee health requirements, such as TB screening or testing, apply. The VA offers federal employee benefits, including paid leave and holidays, parental leave, possible childcare subsidy eligibility, a traditional federal pension, a federal 401(k), and health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance. Recruitment or relocation incentives are authorized; permanent change-of-station relocation assistance is not authorized.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Meet the basic qualification requirement through six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire NA work knowledge and skills, one year of education above high school with related courses, or an intensive specialized occupation-related NA training course of less than one year; an applicable VA grandfathering provision may also qualify current VHA employees.
For GS-4, one year of specialized NA experience or relevant medical-field experience performing technical and nursing skills, or two years of relevant education above high school; candidates must also demonstrate the listed patient-care, observation and reporting, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
For GS-5, one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4, or a qualifying four-year course of study or bachelor’s degree as described in the announcement; candidates must demonstrate abilities in nursing care, oral communication and precepting, and recognizing and responding to emergent care situations.
Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
Complete applicable background and security investigation requirements and required online onboarding.
Submit all application requirements identified in the Required Documents section.
If selected, undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use when applicable to a testing-designated position; refusal results in denial of employment.
If male and born after December 31, 1959, meet Selective Service registration requirements.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual employee health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.
Serve a 1- or 2-year trial period, subject to the stated continued-employment certification requirements.
Possess visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity; be able to perform the physical activities and work in the conditions described in the announcement.
Be a mature, flexible, sensible individual able to work effectively in stressful situations and shift priorities according to patient needs.

Nice To Haves

One year of outpatient clinical experience.
Six months of dermatology clinic experience.
One year of wound care experience.

Responsibilities

Use a glucose monitoring machine to obtain readings for veterans and report deviations to appropriate health care staff.
Provide direct care to veterans with complex needs.
Observe subtle changes in residents’ conditions, including behavior, mood, skin color, and appetite, and take appropriate action within the NA role.
Document care, observations, responses, patient information, and condition changes using appropriate forms and charting formats.
Respond to subtle patient changes by contacting appropriate nursing personnel.
Provide complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
Monitor and document patient intake and output, reporting deviations promptly and accurately.
Perform nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures, including procedures such as enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressings, and application of braces and prosthetic devices.
Work with veterans or residents in small-group activities in accordance with their treatment plans.
Promote residents’ autonomy and independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
Participate in treatment planning and treatment team meetings, contributing patient information to care plans.
Use equipment to promote 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.
Orient health care team members to the unit as appropriate.
Function as a member of the unit-based council.
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.
Provide continuous video monitoring of patients when assigned, after completing required training.

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 selected applicants may receive credit toward annual leave accrual for prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
Eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 may qualify after 60 days for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
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 may be carried into retirement.
Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
A higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
Recruitment or sign-on incentive is authorized.