Nursing Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Seattle VA Medical Center seeks a Nursing Assistant to join the Float Team, supporting providers, nursing leadership, and RNs in caring for patients with diverse conditions, including dementia and palliative care.

The position requires US citizenship or eligibility, and the appropriate education/experience, with advancing levels GS-3 to GS-5; supervision by RNs; emphasizes patient safety, communication, and basic clinical skills.

Qualifications

• US citizenship or eligibility as required by VA policy.
• English language proficiency in speaking and writing.
• Education/Experience options: six months general experience or one year of related education or a short occupation-related training.

Skills

Caregiving

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Two years of higher education related to nursing care

Bachelor's degree with 24 sem hours in health care

Job description

The Nursing Assistant is a member of the Float Team, providing assistance to the providers, nursing leadership team, registered nurses, and other team members. This Patient Care service line cares for patients admitted to the Seattle VA Medical Center. Patients may have a combination of acute or chronic health conditions, diminished cognitive functioning, including dementia, mild to severe disability, or receiving palliative or hospice care.

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.
• Experience or Education or Training:
  • (1) Six 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 a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.
• English Language Proficiency. NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Grade Determinations

GS-3 NA (Entry Level)

• Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements

GS-4 NA

• Experience: One year of specialized experience as a NA or experience 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 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
  • Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
  • 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.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.

GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level)

• Experience. One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) below; 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
• Demonstrated KSAs.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance. For example, recognizing need for basic life support, controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis, etc.

Preferred Experience

3 years of experience

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

Physical Requirements

There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019, updated on 4/17/2026.