Nursing Assistant (Med-Surg)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Fayetteville (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Nursing Assistant at the GS-5 level to support the nursing care team in providing preventive, acute, sub-acute and hospice care. The NA works under the supervision of licensed nurses and may assist with complex patient needs across care settings.

Applicants must meet basic requirements and may be referred while completing licensure or education. The full performance level is GS-5; English proficiency is required and grandfathering provisions apply

Qualifications

• Demonstrates KSAs to assist in full range of nursing care under RN/LPN direction.
• Ability to communicate with patients/families and interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to recognize and respond to emergent patient care situations.

Responsibilities

• Assist licensed nursing staff in preventive, acute, chronic, maintenance and hospice care.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families and team members.
• Recognize urgent care needs and initiate appropriate action while awaiting supervision.

Skills

Communication

Nursing assistance

Precepting/mentoring

Education

One year of education above high school with health care courses

Bachelor’s degree with 24 health care semester hours

Job description

The NA 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 preventive, acute, sub-acute chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. 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. 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.

1. (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.
2. c. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
3. d. 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.
4. e. Grandfathering Provisions. All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this 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.

Grade Determinations

GS-5

1. (a) 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,
2. (b) 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
3. (c) Demonstrated KSAs
   • i 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.
   • ii 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.
   • iii 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: ED or critical Care 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-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-5.

Physical Requirements:

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