Nursing Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 40,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Nursing Assistant for long-term care responsibilities under close supervision. The role involves assisting with the full range of nursing care in hospital, long-term care, or outpatient settings, under guidance from RNs and LPNs/LVNs.

Applicants may be referred tentatively if educational or licensure requirements are not yet completed, with final hiring contingent on meeting all requirements.

Qualifications

• 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, including serving as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with orientation and overseeing/assessing practical experience in a clinical setting.
• Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance (e.g., basic life support, controlling bleeding, behavior crisis).

Responsibilities

• Assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care, or in other acute/subacute/chronic settings.
• Participate in assessing, implementing, and evaluating nursing care under close supervision and with appropriate training.
• Support supervision and mentorship roles for new nursing assistants as part of the care team.

Education

One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to GS-4 level

Bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of health care courses or possession of a bachelor's degree

Job description

The Nursing Assistant will develop skills in order to participate in assessing, implementing, and evaluating nursing care by the following listed below, however, the responsibilities will be completed under close supervision at all times as well as with appropriate training. This role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs, or other healthcare professionals.

This position is in Long Term Care

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.

Grade Requirement 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.

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.

Assignment.

This is the full performance level for NAs. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. NAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role.

Grandfathering Provisions

All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date oft his 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:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05.

Physical Requirements:

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Preferred Experience:

• Two years of inpatient or long-term care experience

Reference:

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