Nursing Assistant - Specialty Care 3K Unit

Veterans Health Administration • Minneapolis, MN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant on the Specialty Care 3K Unit provides direct care to Veterans with acute medical and surgical needs, including patients with cardiac, respiratory, and other comorbid conditions. The role assists with activities of daily living, monitors changes in patients’ conditions, supports specialized procedures, and contributes to a safe, therapeutic, patient-centered environment.

The position works with the nursing care team and interdisciplinary colleagues to support individualized treatment plans and patient recovery. The full performance level is GS-5; applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-5. Work involves day and night shift rotations, including weekends and holidays. Flexible or compressed schedules may be available. Telework and virtual work are not available.

This is a VA position serving Veterans within a Whole Health System of care, which emphasizes personalized health plans, healing relationships and environments, and connection to the Veteran’s community.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification; training is provided.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Meet one of the basic qualification pathways: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire Nursing Assistant knowledge and skills; one year of related education above high school; or a specialized occupation-related Nursing Assistant training program of less than one year.
• For GS-4, meet either one year of Nursing Assistant or other medical-field experience involving technical and nursing skills, or two years of relevant post-high-school education, and demonstrate the listed patient-care, observation, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-5, meet either one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 in relevant nursing-care assignments, or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with 24 relevant semester hours or a bachelor’s degree; also demonstrate the listed nursing-care, communication, and emergency-response abilities.
• Meet applicable background/security investigation requirements and complete the required onboarding and application documentation.
• Comply with seasonal influenza vaccination requirements for VA health care personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• If qualifying through education or training, provide the specified transcripts, training documentation, or proof of enrollment; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care to Veterans, including assistance with bathing, hygiene, mobility, meals, and other activities of daily living.
• Observe and report changes in patients’ condition, behavior, mood, skin color, appetite, and response to care.
• Perform assigned nursing procedures, including tracheostomy care, suctioning, catheterization, colostomy care, simple dressings, and prosthetic device application.
• Monitor and document intake and output, glucose readings, and vital signs, and promptly report deviations.
• Support therapeutic group activities and individualized Veteran treatment plans while promoting autonomy and independence.
• Participate in treatment planning meetings and communicate relevant patient information to the interdisciplinary team.
• Maintain a clean and safe environment by identifying hazards, removing defective equipment, and following infection-control and aseptic practices.
• Manage disruptive behaviors.
• At the GS-5 level, assist with orientation and practical experience assessment of new Nursing Assistants when serving as a preceptor.
• Recognize and respond to emergent patient-care situations, including basic life support needs, bleeding, and behavioral crises, while awaiting assistance.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or agency needs.
• Student Loan Repayment Program eligibility, with repayment up to $10,000 annually and $60,000 over a lifetime, subject to program requirements and a service agreement.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 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 a qualifying birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Potential childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other conditions.
• 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