Nursing Assistant - Acute Care

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, seeks a Nursing Assistant (NA) to provide care across medicine, surgery, ICU, and long-term care areas. The NA delivers direct patient care, supports nursing staff, and adapts to assignment in clinic and hospital units.

The role emphasizes safety, documentation, and collaboration with the nursing team to support patient recovery and comfort in a busy VA setting.

Qualifications

• Education or Training requirements described in the Qualifications section.
• One year above high school with courses related to Nursing Assistant (NA).
• Completion of an intensive occupation-related course of study of less than one year may meet requirements.

Responsibilities

• Providing patient care such as feeding, bathing, dressing, positioning, transferring.
• Obtaining vital signs and capillary blood glucose results.
• Documentation of care and patient education; performing procedures under supervision.

Education

One year above high school with courses related to NA

Successful completion of 2 years above high school in a related health field (for GS-4/5)

Job description

Summary

The Nursing Assistant (NA) within the scope and certification of a CNA in the nursing unit - clinic - area of assignment and demonstrates consistent practice when temporarily assigned to related nursing units and clinics. Provides care and services to multiple populations served and admitted to the nursing unit - clinic - area of assignment as determined by the patient/resident need for nursing care and services.

Qualifications

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
• Education or Training
• One year above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Part-Time Experience
• Part-time experience as a Nursing Assistant is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek
• For example - a Nursing Assistant employed 20 hours a week - or on a 1/2-time basis - would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service
• Grade Determinations: GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level) Experience [and] Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignments
• Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are at the entry level and are closely supervised
• GS-4 Nursing Assistant: Experience
• One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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: 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-5 Nursing Assistant (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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 Nursing Assistant 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 need for basic life support - controlling bleeding - and assisting with behavior crisis - etc
• 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) Preferred Experience: Certified Nursing Assistant Level II Hospital Acute Care Nursing Assistant Experience within the last 2 years Demonstrated use of computerized electronic medical record charting and data entry Long Term Care of Adult Geriatric patients Demonstrated successful care of the Psychiatric Acute Patient Preferred Level of Education: High School plus 1- 2 years college in a health-related field Preferred Certification(s): CNA II 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: The position requires performance of work which involves heavy lifting and carrying of 45 pounds and over - repetitive pulling - pushing - reaching above shoulder - walking - standing - bending - kneeling and the ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• It also requires the use of safe patient handling equipment
• Working Conditions: The work is performed inside areas working around machinery with moving parts - working with hands in water
• Incumbent will at times work alone and closely with others.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Nursing Assistant working for the Medical- Surgical Units (Acute Care) will provide care to Veterans in multiple clinical areas
• This will include possible one on one observation to Veterans identified with mental health crisis - Suicidal Ideation - Homicidal Ideation - or at high risk for injury due to altered mental status
• The assigned areas for the nursing assistant working for the Resource Unit are the 4 Medicine and Surgical Units supporting 25 beds each for patients pre-and post-surgery - dialysis care - cancer care and other chronic acute medical admissions
• The Emergency Department which is one of the busiest level 3 facilities nationwide with 27 beds and a 4 bed Psychiatric acute care unit placed for Mental Health Emergency Care
• The Intensive Care Units are Surgical - Medical and Cardiac with occasional needs for close observation with falls risk patients who may not be aware of the surroundings due to sedation or medical disease process
• The final area of service would be to our Community Living Area for the Long-Term Care Residents or Veterans needing End of Life Care - Rehab or Respite Care
• In addition - the staff will be assigned to provide the full range of Nursing Assistant duties on one of the above units - if/when the need for close observation is not present
• Major responsibilities and duties may include but are not limited to the following: Providing patient care such as feeding - bathing - dressing - positioning - transferring Obtaining vital signs and capillary blood glucose results
• Documentation of care and patient education Performing procedures such as enemas - wound care - tube feedings and suctioning
• Applying creams - lotions - and administering other approved medications under the supervision of the nurse
• Assisting with examinations and medical procedures such preparing and positioning patient - obtaining equipment and supplies
• Performing as a sitter to observe patients when necessary for suicide prevention - fall reduction - and risk of harm to self/other
• Setting up equipment such as suction equipment - oxygen - cooling blankets - etc
• Work Schedule: The shift will be days - evenings - or nights with weekend night rotation for a 40 hour work week - Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized