Nursing Assistant (Community Living Center)

Veterans Health Administration • Murfreesboro, TN

21h • Onsite

About The Position

The Alvin C. York Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is recruiting a Nursing Assistant for its Community Living Center. The role provides direct care to veterans and residents with complex needs under the direction of nursing staff, supports their treatment and care plans, and helps maintain a clean, safe, and therapeutic environment. The position’s full performance level is GS-5; selection may be at GS-3 through GS-5.

The Nursing Assistant observes and documents residents’ conditions and responses, identifies changes, reports deviations to appropriate health care personnel, and carries out nursing procedures within the scope of practice and applicable policies. The assistant contributes to treatment planning and resident activities, promotes autonomy and independence, uses patient-care equipment, and supports unit safety, infection control, and staff orientation.

This is a full-time position scheduled for six 12-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift per pay period, with rotating weekends and holidays, based on service needs. The position may involve prolonged periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; transferring patients and objects; and exposure to infectious materials and occasionally combative patients. Protective clothing may be required in isolation or operative/invasive situations.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the Nursing Assistant basic qualification 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 occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related NA training course or program of less than one year.
• For GS-4 qualification, one year of specialized NA or other medical-field experience involving technical and nursing skills, or two years of relevant post-high-school education; candidates must also demonstrate the specified patient-care, observation, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-5 qualification, one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4, or the stated qualifying education; candidates must demonstrate the specified nursing-care, communication, precepting, and emergency-response abilities.
• Complete required background/security screening, onboarding, and any applicable pre-employment drug testing; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.
• Complete a one- or two-year trial period as a condition of employment.
• Meet the physical requirements, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, and manual dexterity; ability to work effectively in stressful situations and shift priorities based on patient needs.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.
• Two years of experience.
• Restorative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Use a glucose monitoring machine to obtain readings and refer deviations to appropriate health care staff.
• Provide direct care to veterans with complex needs and observe for changes in behavior, mood, skin color, appetite, and other aspects of condition; take appropriate action within the Nursing Assistant’s assigned role.
• Document care, observations, and patient responses using appropriate tools, forms, and chart formats.
• Respond to patient changes by contacting appropriate nursing personnel.
• Provide complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitor and document patient intake and output and report deviations promptly and accurately.
• Perform nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policy, including procedures such as enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressing changes, and application of braces and prosthetic devices.
• Work with veterans and residents in small-group activities in accordance with their treatment plans.
• Respect residents’ autonomy and promote independence through respectful, individualized care and appropriate limit setting.
• Participate in treatment planning meetings and provide patient information to the treatment team for care planning.
• Use equipment to support veterans’ self-care, including lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and the Veteran/Resident Wandering System.
• Help maintain a clean and safe environment; remove defective equipment, report hazards, follow safety regulations, contribute to infection control, and use proper aseptic technique.
• Serve as the unit safe patient handling liaison.
• Serve as a preceptor and mentor to other Nursing Assistants and orient health care team members to the unit as appropriate.
• Participate as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Manage patient behavior and intervene appropriately, requesting assistance from other health care staff when needed.
• Initiate basic life support and take appropriate action in emergencies.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step within the grade may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 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.
• Selected applicants may receive credit toward annual leave accrual for prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for 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 VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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