Nursing Assistant - Community Living Center

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Castle Point (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking Nursing Assistants for the Montrose and Castle Point campuses. This Open & Continuous Announcement supports filling current and future vacancies in the Nursing Service, with shifts including days, evenings, and weekends.

The NA will provide direct patient care in long-term care settings, support the care plan, and assist with observations, documentation, and patient education. VA offers comprehensive federal benefits and career growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• US Citizenship required; non-citizens may be appointed where VA policy allows.
• English language proficiency in speaking and writing per VA standards.
• Six months of general experience or education/training in a related field.
• Demonstrated KSAs: patient care, observation, communication, and use of simple medical equipment.
• GS-5 requires one year of related experience or appropriate education leading to nursing responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Work in the Long Term Care Unit at Montrose or Castle Point.
• Rotating shifts; weekends and holidays as needed.
• Provide direct nursing care per the nurse care plan.
• Document care and patient observations in the EHR.
• Assist with patient education, safety, and restorative activities.
• May serve as unit safety liaison and mentor new NA staff.

Skills

Patient care

Observation

Equipment use

Communication

Precepting / mentoring

Education

Two years above high school with related courses

Bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours in healthcare

Nursing Assistant certification

Job description

Summary

This is an Open & Continuous Announcement and will remain open until 9/30/26 to fill current Nursing Assistant - Long Term Care vacancies for various shifts at the Montrose and Castle Point locations. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be referred for consideration as vacancies become available.

Qualifications

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Experience - Education - or Training: Six months of general experience
• (Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of an NA)
• OR One year above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related course of study of less than one year which resulted in attaining certification as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4: One year of specialized experience as a nursing assistant or experience in another medical field (LPN - 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) that include the following: 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 resident's physical or emotional status of 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: 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 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) that include the following: 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 Vocation 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 assistants by assisting with 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
• 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. Preferred Experience: 1+ year(s) of current Certified Nursing Assistant experience preferred
• 2-3 years of Nursing Assistant experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position include lifting - prolonged standing and sitting - frequent bending - walking (distance) - climbing - reaching (overhead - extensive/repetitive) - pulling - pushing - repetitive motion and stooping
• The mental/sensory requirements include recall - reasoning - problem-solving - hearing - speaking clearly - writing legibly - keyboarding - reading and logical thinking - depth perception - hearing (aide permitted)
• near/far vision correctable to meet Driver's License requirements
• The environment's pace can vary from steady to a sometimes-fast pace requiring handling of multiple priorities - frequent - sometimes intense customer interactions - and the ability to adapt to frequent changes in a sometimes-noisy environment
• There may be the need to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to disease - illness and hazardous materials
• Work requires extensive walking - standing - stretching and bending in caring for patients.

Duties

• The Nursing Assistant (NA) will work in a Long Term Care Unit at either the Montrose or Castle Point Campus
• The Community Living Center (CLC) Nursing Assistant (NA) will primarily perform assignments required in the 24/7 setting within Nursing Service and may perform assignments outside of the CLC as needed
• This position requires the Nursing Assistant to work rotating shifts - weekends - and holidays to meet the operational needs of the home
• The incumbent will uphold the standards of care as outlined by Facility / Nursing Service policies and procedures
• The Nursing Assistant provides nursing care to a variety of residents within the Community Living Center
• He/she functions as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive - acute - sub-acute chronic - maintenance - hospice care - and may also assume a peer education/mentorship
• Responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Provides direct care for complex veterans Performs nursing care to meet the patient's/resident's need for personal hygiene - physical comfort - activity - exercise - rest - nutrition - elimination - prevention of skin breakdown - and rehabilitative aspects of care
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition - i.e
• behavior shifts - mood - skin coloring - appetite - etc
• and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role
• Documents care given - observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms and within the Electronic Health Record
• Responds appropriately to subtle patient/resident changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personnel Performs tracheostomy care - including suctioning
• Monitor and documents patient/resident intake and output - reporting deviations timely and accurately Monitors patients/residents according to levels of observations i.e.one to one suicide - continuous observation - q 15 minute checks - and conducts intentional hourly rounding
• Monitors Veterans who may be at risk for harming themselves and or others according to established policies and procedures and appropriately refers issues to the charge nurse or other health care professional
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures
• Works on small group activities with veterans/residents according to the patients/resident treatment plan
• Assisting with patient/resident education including orienting patient/resident/family to unit routines and policies
• Recognizes the patient's/residents' autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect - limit setting and individualized treatment
• Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care - such as
• lift equipment - and Veteran/Resident Wandering System
• Verbally provides patient/resident information to the treatment team for inclusion in the patient's/residents' plan of care - participates in treatment team meetings for patient/resident care planning
• Removes defective equipment - reports hazards - observes safety regulations - contributes to infection control - and utilizes proper a septic technique in performance of duties
• May serve as the unit safe patient handling liaison Orients members of the health care team to the CLC as appropriate Performs Restorative Nursing Care as assigned Manages disruptive patient/resident behavior and appropriately intervenes and requests assistance from other health care members
• Appropriately initiates basic life support - takes appropriate action when directed during emergent situations
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Day/Evening/Night - Variable shifts available and will be discussed at interview
• Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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)