Nursing Assistant - Acute Care

Veterans Health Administration • Temple, TX

10h • Onsite

About The Position

The Central Texas Health Care System is recruiting Nursing Assistants for Acute Care in Temple, Texas. The Nursing Assistant (NA) works as a member of the nursing care team, assisting licensed nursing staff with preventive, acute, subacute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. The role involves caring for patients and residents with acute or chronic conditions in a range of settings, under close supervision and with appropriate training and competency for assigned tasks. CLC 11A/11B units provide short-stay rehabilitation, hospice, and dementia care, with a focus on helping Veterans return home at their highest level of function.

The NA performs and documents assigned nursing care, including collecting glucose readings, observing and reporting patient status, measuring and recording vital signs, assisting with procedures, administering oxygen therapy, and contributing to care plans and recovery. The role also includes reinforcing patient and family health education, documenting care and responses, communicating changes in condition to nursing or medical staff, and using electronic systems to enter and retrieve patient information.

The NA is expected to work cooperatively with patients, families, hospital staff, and other customers, demonstrating courtesy, empathy, tact, respect, customer service, and professional integrity. The position requires the ability to remain calm in stressful situations and adapt priorities to patient needs. Work schedules are either 7:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.–8:00 a.m., with rotating weekends and holidays. The full performance level is GS-05; selection may be at GS-03 through GS-05.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Meet the basic qualification requirement through one of the following: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire NA knowledge and skills; one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the NA occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related NA training course of less than one year.
• For GS-4 consideration, either one year of specialized experience as an NA or in another medical field performing relevant technical and nursing skills, or successful completion of two years of post-high-school education in a related field; applicable education requires transcripts. GS-4 candidates must also demonstrate the listed patient-care, observation, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-5 consideration, either one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 demonstrating relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities, or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with 24 semester hours of healthcare-related courses, or a bachelor’s degree; applicable education requires transcripts. GS-5 candidates must also demonstrate the listed nursing-care, communication/preceptor, and emergency-response abilities.
• Ability to meet physical requirements, including visual acuity, hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; patient or object transfers may be required.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations and shift priorities based on patient needs.
• Subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment in a testing-designated position; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of the online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA healthcare personnel.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Selected employees must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the terms described in the announcement.
• Submit transcripts when relying on education to meet qualification requirements; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Nice To Haves

• Evidence of Lean Belt training or experience.
• Professional Governance participation.
• Certified Nursing Assistant certification.
• Current BLS certification.

Responsibilities

• Perform basic nursing duties under close supervision in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Care for patients and residents with acute to chronic conditions, including those receiving rehabilitation, hospice, and dementia care.
• Collect and document glucose readings using a glucose monitoring machine.
• Observe patients’ physical and emotional status; document observations and report deviations or problems to a supervisor promptly.
• Perform, report, and record assigned nursing care, including administering oxygen therapy.
• Provide patient and resident care and contribute to nurse care plans and recovery.
• Use equipment, materials, and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• Assist with minor procedures by obtaining and arranging equipment, positioning patients, and ensuring comfort and privacy.
• Document interventions and patient visits in applicable nursing notes.
• Reinforce patient and family health education related to disease management, prevention, and wellness.
• Measure and record vital signs in CPRS and immediately report significant deviations.
• Identify urgent or emergent care situations, seek assistance, and intervene as directed when appropriate.
• Communicate clearly and promptly with patients, families, nursing staff, and medical providers; seek guidance when a patient’s condition requires higher-level intervention.
• Use computer systems and packages, including CPRS and VISTA, to enter and retrieve electronic data and patient information.
• Promote cooperation and teamwork, provide good customer service, and treat patients, families, and staff with courtesy, empathy, tact, and respect.
• Remain calm in stressful situations and maintain personal and professional integrity.
• Work rotating weekends and holidays according to the assigned schedule.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 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.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• 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.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on 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