Nursing Assistant- Geriatric & Extended Care Unit (GEC)

Veterans Health Administration; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hampton VA Medical Center in Hampton, VA is seeking a Nursing Assistant for the Geriatric & Extended Care Unit (GEC). This role supports patient care under supervision of RNs and provides essential nursing support in a hospital/long-term care setting.

Candidates must meet basic requirements with education or training pathways; duties include assisting with nursing care, observing patients, and communicating with the care team while emphasizing safety and patient comfort.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship as required by VA policy; non-citizens only if allowed.
• Six months general experience or equivalent education/training in nursing care.
• English proficiency in speaking and writing per VA requirements.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the full range of nursing care under supervision of a Registered Nurse or LPN.
• Observe patient condition and report deviations to the supervisor promptly.
• Properly use basic medical equipment and supplies for routine tasks.
• Serve as a preceptor to new NAs, supporting orientation and practical training.

Skills

Nursing care

Patient observation

Effective communication

Equipment handling

Education

2 years of college courses related to nursing care

Bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours in health care

Tools

Bladder scan

Blood glucose monitor

Job description

This position is for a Nursing Assistant in the Geriatric & Extended Care Unit (GEC) at the Hampton VA Medica Center in Hampton, Virginia.

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. Experience or Education or Training. Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR, One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR, 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.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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-03 (Entry Level) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 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-05 (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: NURSING HOME/LONG-TERM CARE EXPERIENCE PREFERRED, 1-2 YEARS NURSING ASSISTANT EXPERIENCE PREFERRED, UP TO DATE CNA CERTIFICATION Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 03 to 05. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings.