Nursing Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Maywood (IL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Nursing Assistant (NA) to join care teams in clinical units including CLC, Acute Rehabilitation, and Blind Rehabilitation. The NA performs daily living activities under supervision, supporting Veterans’ treatment plans and wellness goals.

Qualifications focus on citizenship, English proficiency, and meeting experience/education/training requirements for GS-3 to GS-5 levels. Preference for weekend/holiday availability and LTC experience.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship is required.
• English language proficiency in speaking and writing.
• Experience, education, or training options to meet basic NA requirements.
• Grade levels GS-03 to GS-05 with increasing KSAs for nursing care.

Responsibilities

• Perform activities of daily living for veterans under supervision.
• Contribute to the treatment plan, recovery, and wellness under licensed providers.
• Assist licensed nurses and experienced NAs in care delivery.
• Adhere to safety and infection control practices and document care as directed.

Education

Six months general experience

One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation

Intensive occupation-related training course (<1 year)

Four-year college course with health-related content (optional)

Job description

The Nursing Assistant (NA) is an integral part of the care team that performs basic nursing duties under close supervision under RNs, LPNs, and Experienced NAs within the Community Living Center (CLC), the Acute Rehabilitation Unit and the Blind Rehabilitation Unit. The NA performs activities of daily living and provides a range of care that contributes to the Veteran's treatment plan, recovery, and wellness under the direction of a licensed health care provider. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Experience, Education, or Training. You must meet one of the following to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA):
  1. Six (6) months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR,
  2. One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR,
  3. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation‑related training course of study or program of less than one year as an NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS‑3.

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

Grade Requirements

GS‑03 — None beyond the basic requirements. NAs at this grade NAs are considered entry‑level and are closely supervised.

GS‑04 — To qualify at the GS‑4 level, you must meet the following:

• EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or in another medical field (licensed practical nurse, health technician, hospital corpsman, etc.), performing technical and nursing skills requiring knowledge of the human physical and emotional states, therapeutic communication, and technical skills required for basic and intermediate treatments. OR,
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of two (2) years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care, health care or in a field of study appropriate to the specialization of the position, such as education in a program for psychology, psychiatric, or operating room technicians.

AND, in addition, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or residents' physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
3. Ability to properly use equipment, materials, and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures such as bladder scan, continuous passive motion device, blood glucose monitoring machine, specimen collection, etc.
4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families, and other health professionals.

GS‑05 — To qualify at the GS‑5 level, you must meet the following:

• EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS‑4 level, which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home, or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative, acute, sub‑acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. OR,
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of a 4‑year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree that included 24 semester hours of courses related to health care or possession of a bachelor's degree.

AND, in addition, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

1. Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in a hospital, long‑term care or outpatient setting under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse.
2. Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team, and other personnel. This includes serving as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting.
3. Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance. For example, recognizing the need for basic life support, controlling bleeding, and assisting with behavior crisis, etc.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS‑03 to GS‑05.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grandfathering Provisions

All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• (1) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• (2) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of re‑entry to the occupation.

Preferred Experience: 3 - 5 years Long Term Care experience strongly preferred. Available to work weekends & Holidays; 12-hour Night Shift.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS‑3 to GS‑5.

Physical Requirements This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear, distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The NA may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolationsituations or operative/invasive procedures. The NA may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The NA must be mature, flexible, and sensible. An individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The NA must complete annual employee health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. These physical requirements will be consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019.