Nursing Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Tomah, WI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant serves at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tomah, Wisconsin, under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or other licensed health care professional. The role requires broad-based clinical knowledge and involves assisting with care for residents with diverse conditions and diagnoses, including residents at end of life. Three positions are available, with selection at GS-3 through GS-5. The full performance level is GS-5.

The Nursing Assistant provides personal and restorative care, helps residents move and use equipment, observes and reports changes in condition, and documents care in flow sheets and the Computerized Patient Records System (CPRS). Care must be delivered respectfully and without judgment, while maintaining residents’ privacy, confidentiality, and rights. The schedule lists 12:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m. and 3:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Telework is not available; the position is not virtual.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Meet the basic experience or education requirement: six months of general experience; or one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized occupation-related training course of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant.
• GS-4 qualification: one year of specialized Nursing Assistant experience or experience in another medical field performing technical and nursing skills; or two years of post-high-school education in an accredited institution with relevant courses. GS-4 candidates must demonstrate the listed patient-care, observation and reporting, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• GS-5 qualification: one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4; or a four-year course of study above high school 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.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete the required background/security investigation and online onboarding process; selected applicants must provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period if appointed.
• Submit a transcript if relying on education to meet any qualification requirement; foreign education requires the specified equivalency documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Previous Nursing Assistant experience, preferably in a nursing home, long-term care, or Community Living Center (CLC) setting.

Responsibilities

• Assist medical personnel in caring for or treating residents with diverse conditions and diagnoses.
• Prepare, ambulate, transport, and position residents using equipment.
• Provide personal care, including bathing, shaving, feeding, incontinence care, nail trimming, range-of-motion activities, and ambulation.
• Perform duties that support residents’ comfort and spirit.
• Encourage residents and assist them in completing restorative programs.
• Recognize and report obvious changes in residents’ conditions.
• Deliver care respectfully and without judgment.
• Maintain residents’ privacy, confidentiality, and privacy rights.
• Accurately document resident information on flow sheets and in the Computerized Patient Records System (CPRS).
• Provide resident information to the accountable LPN/RN for inclusion in the resident’s plan of care.
• Complete assignments and report to the accountable LPN/RN when assignments are complete or when activities cannot be completed.
• Adjust to changes in assignments.
• Provide care to veterans with diverse conditions and diagnoses, including residents at end of life.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 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 the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000, up to 25% of eligible childcare costs and subject to the stated monthly maximum.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• 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