Nursing Assistant- Specialty Care

Veterans Health Administration•Sioux Falls, SD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant provides compassionate, hands-on care to adult and geriatric Veterans with diverse physical and mental health needs at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center. The role supports Veterans’ health, dignity, safety, and daily well-being as part of a collaborative nursing team. Care is delivered under the direction of nursing staff and includes assistance with daily activities, mobility, observation, and preparation for therapy, while maintaining clean and safe care areas and communicating respectfully with Veterans and families. This is a full-time position with 8- or 12-hour shifts scheduled between 6:45 a.m. and 7:15 p.m., or between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Shifts vary based on unit needs. Rotating weekends and holidays are required. Compressed or flexible scheduling is available. The position is onsite at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center; telework and virtual work are not available. The vacancy may be filled at GS-3 through GS-5, with GS-5 as the full performance level. The role requires a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, English proficiency, and passing a pre-employment physical examination or evaluation. Physical duties include extended standing and walking and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, and pulling. Federal benefits include paid leave, federal holidays, parental leave subject to eligibility, possible childcare subsidy, retirement benefits, and federal insurance programs. Shift, weekend, and holiday premiums may apply.

Requirements

Meet one of the basic qualification pathways: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire Nursing Assistant knowledge and skills; one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training course of less than one year. A VA grandfathering provision may apply to qualifying current VHA employees.
For GS-4, have one year of Nursing Assistant or other medical-field experience performing relevant technical and nursing skills, or two years of post-high-school education in relevant coursework; also demonstrate the specified patient-care, observation, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
For GS-5, have 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 that included 24 semester hours related to health care, or a bachelor’s degree; also demonstrate the specified nursing-care, communication, precepting, and emergency-response abilities.
Be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated limited exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
Be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
Hold Basic Life Support (BLS) certification; training is provided.
Pass the pre-employment physical examination or evaluation.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Complete required application and onboarding documentation and be subject to background/security investigation and, for testing-designated positions, pre-employment urinalysis.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period if required.
Meet applicable education documentation requirements; education used to qualify must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Meet the position’s physical requirements, including extensive standing and walking and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, and pulling.

Nice To Haves

Prior work experience or military service may qualify an applicant for credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval.
Higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs may be considered when determining a higher step rate within the appropriate grade.

Responsibilities

Provide personal care, including bathing, feeding, oral care, and hygiene.
Assist Veterans with ambulation, lifting, positioning, and preparation for physical or occupational therapy.
Reapply nasal oxygen cannulas and replace oxygen tanks as needed.
Recognize and properly use equipment, materials, and supplies under the direction of a Registered Nurse.
Observe and report changes in physical condition, emotional responses, vital signs, and other clinical indicators.
Collect specimens and perform diagnostic support duties.
Participate effectively in emergency situations, including Code Blue, Code Man, and internal disasters.
Clean and maintain ward work areas and report safety hazards or equipment needing repair.
Provide one-to-one observation for Veterans requiring close monitoring.
Communicate respectfully with Veterans and families to support a safe, culturally sensitive care environment.
Assist licensed nursing staff and other care-team members with nursing care under the direction of nursing staff.
Contribute to the completion of nurse care plans and patient recovery.
Recognize and respond to emergent patient-care situations while awaiting assistance.

Benefits

Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
Shift differential of 10% of basic pay for regularly scheduled work between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Weekend premium of 25% of basic pay for work between midnight Friday and midnight Sunday, including continuous service connected to work during those hours.
Holiday pay at twice the basic hourly rate for regularly scheduled, non-overtime work on a designated holiday.
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.
Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees, subject to income and other eligibility conditions.
Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.