Nursing Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Dayton, OH

20d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dayton VA Medical Center is hiring a Nursing Assistant for its Mental Health Residential Rehab Treatment Program (MHRRTP). The role provides care to Veterans/residents, performs clinical and technical procedures, and offers ancillary services. The position’s full performance level is GS-5, and applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-5.

The Nursing Assistant works with direction from nursing staff and the interdisciplinary team to support patient care, recovery, independence, and quality of life. The position includes routine care, assistance with treatments, observation and reporting of patient status, and close-observation therapeutic companion assignments. The work schedule is 3:30 p.m. to midnight, with rotating weekends and holidays. Compressed/flexible scheduling and telework are not available; this is not a virtual position.

Applicants must meet the applicable experience, education, or training requirements for the grade sought and demonstrate the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Basic qualifications include U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, and applicable experience or education. Employment is subject to pre-employment screening and examination, required onboarding, and a one- or two-year trial period.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where a non-citizen appointment is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-3: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire nursing assistant knowledge and skills; or one year of post-high-school education with related courses; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related nursing assistant training course or program of less than one year.
• For GS-4: one year of specialized nursing assistant experience or experience in another medical field performing technical and nursing skills; or successful completion of two years of post-high-school education in relevant coursework. Candidates must demonstrate the specified patient-care, observation and reporting, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-5: one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 with directly related knowledge, skills, and abilities; or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree that included 24 semester hours of healthcare-related courses, or possession of a bachelor’s degree. Candidates must demonstrate the specified nursing-care, oral communication, preceptor, and emergency-response abilities.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and applicable background/security investigation; selected applicants are subject to urinalysis drug screening and required online onboarding.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete all application requirements described in the announcement’s Required Documents section.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.
• Meet the position’s physical requirements, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, manual dexterity, and ability to perform extended periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; patient or object transfers may be required.
• Be able to work effectively in stressful situations, shift priorities based on patient needs, and work with patients who may be combative due to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.
• If relying on foreign education, provide a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts; qualifying education must be from institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Responsibilities

• Be ready to receive report at the start of the scheduled tour; listen attentively, take notes, and ask for clarification when needed.
• Organize work according to unit routine and seek guidance when prioritizing or anticipating patient care needs.
• Support adults’ independence, self-sufficiency, physical and social activity, and peer interactions.
• Assist patients in coping with losses, including changes in hearing or eyesight and the death of significant others.
• Provide self-care assistance while helping patients maintain as much independence as possible.
• Perform basic procedures and treatments for assigned patients in accordance with competency checklists and seek guidance as needed.
• Assist the Team Leader or Charge Nurse with procedures and treatments for a team of patients in an organized, timely manner and according to policy and procedure.
• Recognize medical or behavioral emergencies and obtain immediate assistance; complete basic life support and PMDB training as appropriate during orientation.
• Attend interdisciplinary rounds and discharge-planning meetings and develop an understanding of team member roles and educational tools.
• Implement patient instruction and discharge-planning interventions for assigned patients as designated by the Team Leader or Charge Nurse.
• Provide respectful care that preserves Veterans’ individuality, dignity, and self-esteem and supports their care needs and quality of life.
• Serve as a therapeutic companion for Veterans requiring close observation; provide personal care such as bathing, hygiene, feeding, elimination, and intake/output monitoring; maintain direct observation, engage the Veteran in activities as indicated, and help prevent self-harm or interference with treatment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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