Nursing Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Ann Arbor, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant works in Patient Care Services at the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The role assists licensed nursing staff in caring for patients and residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. Assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs that can range from predictable to unpredictable.

The Nursing Assistant performs and documents care and interventions within the role’s scope of practice, observes and reports changes in patients’ conditions, supports treatment and care planning, and uses patient-care equipment. The position requires working effectively with patients, residents, families, licensed nursing staff, and the broader treatment team.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, with shifts listed as 7:30 p.m.–8:00 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.–8:00 a.m.; rotating holidays and weekends are required. Telework and virtual work are not available. The full-performance level is GS-05, and selection may be at GS-03 through GS-05.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform Nursing Assistant work; or one year of post-high-school education with related courses; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training course of less than one year, as described for GS-03.
• For GS-04, one year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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.
• For GS-04, ability to provide patient or resident care and contribute to the nurse care plan and recovery; observe physical or emotional status and report deviations promptly; use equipment and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures; and communicate effectively with patients, families, and health professionals.
• For GS-05, one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-04 in directly related work, or a qualifying bachelor’s degree with 24 semester hours of health-care-related courses, or a bachelor’s degree.
• For GS-05, ability to assist with the full range of nursing care for patients with physical or behavioral problems under the direction of an RN and/or LVN/LPN; communicate orally with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and other personnel, including serving as a preceptor to new Nursing Assistants; and recognize and respond to emergent care situations while awaiting assistance.
• Must meet the grade-specific qualifications and demonstrate the applicable knowledge, skills, and abilities in the resume.
• Must complete a satisfactory physical examination as determined by the Employee Health Unit upon appointment.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required background and security investigation and online onboarding; selected applicants must provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• A two-year trial period is required.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must complete the application requirements detailed in the announcement’s Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Acute care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform and document prescribed medical treatments and interventions, including diabetic urine and blood testing and simple dressing changes.
• Monitor patients according to observation levels, including one-to-one suicide observation, continuous observation, 15-minute checks, and hourly rounding.
• Monitor Veterans who may be at risk of harming themselves or others, follow established policies and procedures, and refer concerns to the charge nurse or another health care professional.
• Use proper body mechanics when caring for patients.
• Report patient status to the RN and document pertinent observations in the medical record according to established procedures.
• Set up patient-care equipment, including hypothermia machines, oxygen delivery systems, and portable or wall suction, and help monitor that equipment is functioning properly.
• Use glucose-monitoring machines to collect glucose values and refer deviations to appropriate nursing staff or another health care provider.
• Observe changes in residents’ behavior, mood, skin coloring, appetite, and other aspects of condition, and act within the assigned role.
• Document care provided, observations, and patient responses on appropriate tools or forms.
• Respond to subtle patient changes by contacting appropriate nursing personnel.
• Provide 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 policies and standard procedures, including enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressings, and application of braces and prosthetic devices.
• Lead or assist with small-group activities according to patient or resident treatment plans.
• Respect residents’ autonomy and promote independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Participate in treatment planning meetings and provide patient information to the treatment team for care planning.
• Use equipment to promote self-care.
• Enter information about residents’ conditions in the chart using appropriate formats.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a federal benefits package; specific benefits and eligibility depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Eligible applicants may request and receive approval for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service; credit is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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