Nursing Assistant - Operating Room

Veterans Health Administration • Northport, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Northport VA Medical Center is hiring a full-time Nursing Assistant in the Operating Room. Under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse, the Nursing Assistant provides direct, hands-on care to Veterans with acute and chronic conditions. The role supports clinical settings including inpatient, outpatient, acute care, and community living centers, and requires managing equipment specific to the work area.

At GS-03, the Nursing Assistant provides basic individualized nursing care using basic nursing knowledge and standardized procedures under licensed professionals’ supervision. At GS-04, the Nursing Assistant provides more complex nursing care as part of the care team, assisting higher-graded Nursing Assistants, licensed staff, and other team members under close supervision. At GS-05, the Nursing Assistant assists licensed nursing staff with preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. This level may include peer education and mentorship responsibilities, maintaining required training, and taking on additional duties as needed.

The full performance level is GS-05; applicants may be selected at GS-03 through GS-05. The position is permanent and follows a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. A 1- or 2-year trial period is required.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where non-citizens may be appointed under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Meet one basic qualification: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire Nursing Assistant skills; one year of related education above high school; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training program of less than one year.
• For GS-04, meet either one year of specialized Nursing Assistant or related medical-field experience, or two years of relevant education above high school, and demonstrate the specified patient-care, observation, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-05, meet either one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-04, or a qualifying bachelor's degree, and demonstrate the specified nursing-care, communication/preceptor, and emergency-response abilities.
• Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English for direct patient care.
• Selected applicants must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete onboarding and application requirements.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must serve a 1- or 2-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Prior work or military service may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval before appointment.
• A higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct, hands-on patient care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse.
• Provide basic individualized nursing care using standardized procedures at the GS-03 level.
• Provide complex nursing care as a member of the care team at the GS-04 level.
• Assist licensed nursing staff in providing preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care.
• Manage equipment specific to the assigned area.
• Observe patients’ physical or emotional status and promptly report deviations or problems to a supervisor.
• Use equipment and supplies in basic diagnostic and treatment procedures, such as bladder scans, continuous passive motion devices, blood glucose monitoring, and specimen collection.
• Recognize and respond to emergent patient-care situations while awaiting assistance, including basic life support needs, bleeding, and behavioral crises.
• At GS-05, support peer education and mentorship, including helping orient new Nursing Assistants and assessing their practical experience when assigned.
• Maintain required training and perform additional duties as area needs require.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases.
• 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.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for qualifying birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• 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 for qualifying prior work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed