Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Nursing Assistant Step Down

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center is a tertiary care facility classified as a Clinical Referral Level 1a Facility. The Indianapolis based VA Medical Center is a teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, Community Based Outpatient Clinics and tertiary care including numerous specialty clinical programs.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/23/2023 to 04/09/2023
Salary
$30,281 to - $49,459 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 3 - 5
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Indianapolis, IN
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CCSD-11899367-23-CS
Control number
714859900

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

Clarification from the agency AREA OF CONSIDERATION: 1. CURRENT PERMANENT EMPLOYEES OF THE AGENCY FOR WHICH THE POSITION IS BEING ADVERTISED 2. ALL OTHER CANDIDATES.

Videos

Duties

Help

The NA provides care for patients with acute to chronic conditions in a variety of settings. Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

  • Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to collect and document glucose readings for assigned veterans and reports deviation to appropriate nursing personnel.
  • Maintains positive therapeutic relationships by displaying respect for human dignity with patients, families and/or significant others utilizing communication skills.
  • Provides direct care for medically and/or socially complex veterans
  • Makes observations of subtle changes in patient'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.
  • Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personal
  • Monitor and documents patient intake and output, reports deviations timely and accurately to appropriate nursing personnel
  • Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran. Such procedures include but not limited to: oral care, assistance with oral intake, bladder scans, electrocardiograms, intermittent catheterization, perineal hygiene, colostomy care, simple dressing changes, application of braces and prosthetic devices, monitoring of vital signs and prevention of skin breakdown.
  • Recognizes the Veteran's' autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect, limit setting and individualized treatment.
  • Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care, such assistive devices, safe patient handling equipment, bed/chair alarms and wandering system notifications.
Work Schedule: Compressed Work Schedule, 6-12 hour shifts and 1 -8 hour shift, with both rotating holidays and weekends.
  • Tour 1: 0730-2000/0730-1600 with rotating weekends and holidays
  • Tour 2: 1130-2400/1530-2400 with rotating weekends and holidays
Shift Differential:
  • 10% night shift
  • 25% weekends, time and a half OT.
Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified applicants
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period.
  • Subject to background/security investigation.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
  • Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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 nursing assistant 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.
  • Physical Requirements: Details outlined below.
  • English Language Proficiency: Nursing Assistants 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).

Preferred Experience: Not applicable

Grade Determinations: 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,
(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
(c) Demonstrated 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 [NAs] 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.

Assignment. This is the full performance level for Nursing Assistant. Nursing Assistant 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. Nursing Assistant at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role.

References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.