Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

• The NA Escort is responsible for the transportation of specimens, patients, and residents in the outpatient and inpatient care units.
• - The NA Escort is responsible for the delivery of patient care and services under the direction of a Registered Nurse, Advance Practice Nurse or MD/DO.
• Practices within the scope and certification of a NA Escort in the nursing unit, clinic, area of assignment and demonstrates consistent practice when temporarily assigned to related nursing units and clinics.
• - Transports patients who do not require a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to transport because of their acuity category.
• - Escort NAs will assist the RN, physician, or other qualified medical personnel in the transport of acute patients.
• - Escort NAs may assist Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) nursing/medical staff with patient transport but will not transport this category of patient without the above staff.
• - Escort NAs may provide assistance to psychiatric nursing or medical staff with patient transport. With specialized training, escort NAs may transport low acuity psychiatric patients without assistance, always remaining 1:1 with patient at all times.
• - Escort NAs will provide necessary patient, specimen and when possible, nonpatient transportation (such as medications - excluding Class II or III narcotics, patient records, and x-rays) in a safe, prompt, and efficient manner throughout the Medical Center.
• - 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. - Provides care of patients/residents and their environment contributing to optimizing patient/resident outcomes as a member of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team.
• - Provides direct patient/resident care in the provision of the psychological, physical, social, and cultural activities of daily living, complete and supportive.
• - Provides for the care of patients/residents with dignity and continuous consideration of the individuals emotional needs.
• - Provides reporting, communication, and documentation in the computerized patient record system with other members of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team. - Maintains certification, BCLS, and currency in required education and training as identified by regulating agencies, the FVAMC, VISN and National Agencies.
• - The Escort NA demonstrates competency and consistency in the technical use of equipment, specialized training to transport patients and specimens, application of technical standards and performance of administrative support duties.
• - Demonstrates competency in all GS 3 and GS 4 NA skills.
• - The Escort NA demonstrates knowledge of and compliance with standard operating procedures for the maintenance of reusable medical equipment.
• - The Escort NA participates in Medical Center activities and demonstrates skills and behaviors that provide and promote positive internal and external customer relationships.
• - The Escort NA attends unit level and Medical Center meetings and develops as an employee to support committee participation.
• - The Escort NA maintains patient/resident safety standards assuring patient /resident privacy, patient/resident physical safety, and patient/resident psychological safety.
• - The Escort NA establishes working relationships with multi-disciplinary and multi-level members of the work team promoting the physical, psychological, and emotional safety of the working environment for all team members.
• - The Escort NA provides assistance and support to the Registered Nurse and/or provider within the scope of the NA certification/grade and consistent with Medical Center policy.
• - The Escort NA demonstrates the knowledge and skills to provide care and services consistent with Infection Control Standards of Practice providing optimal outcomes for patients, residents, visitors, and employees.
• - The Escort NA recognizes, responds, and initiates appropriate level response to medical emergency such as cardiac and/or respiratory failure.

Preferred experience: Nursing Assistant Certificate

Work Schedule: M-F 3:30pm - 12am
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

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.

Grandfathering Provisions. All Nursing Assistants 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
(1) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(2) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.


Grade Determinations:
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 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.

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 05 to 05.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); Straight pulling; Pulling hand overhand; Reaching above shoulders; Use of fingers, both hands required; Walking; Standing; Kneeling; Repeated bending, both legs required; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic and shades of colors; Hearing without aid; Hearing whispers; Mental and Emotional Stability.

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, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

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.