Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies, and all US Citizens (Veterans' Preference does not apply). NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The duties and responsibilities of the Nursing Assistant (NA) - Medical/Surgical Telemetry include but are not limited to:

• Provides direct care for complex Veterans appropriate to the age, cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation of the patient.
• Makes observations of subtle changes in patient condition (i.e., behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc.) and takes appropriate action.
• Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings and refers deviation to appropriate health care staff.
• Documents care given, observations, and responses with appropriate tools and/or forms.
• Monitors and documents patient intake and output and reports deviations timely and accurately.
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and in accordance with policies and standard procedures for care (i.e., enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care simple dressing, application of braces and prosthetic devices).
• Actively participates in treatment planning meetings.
• Participates in small group activities with patients in accordance with the treatment plan.
• Recognizes patient autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment, removing defective equipment, reporting hazards, observing safety regulations, contributing to infection control, and utilizing proper aseptic technique in performance of duties.
• Serves as a preceptor and mentor for other Nursing Assistants.
• Orients members of the health care team to the unit, as appropriate.
• Appropriately initiates basic life support.
• Actively participates in annual competency assessment and validation.
• Consistently communicates and treats customers in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
• Provides customers with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.

Compressed/Flexible:May be available
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): NOT Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): NOT Authorized
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000

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.
• 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 identification 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

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Citizenship of the United States in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(c). Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Experience, Education, or Training: Six months of general experience that demonstrates the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nursing Assistant; or one year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant.
• Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nursing assistants such as direct patient care, and potentially long periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. Examples may include but are not limited to significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients and utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments.

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.

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-3 (Entry Level)

• Experience, Education, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) - None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4

• Experience - One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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, healthcare 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) -
  • 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-5 (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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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

• Basic Life Support (BLS)

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 in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of Consideration
Veterans' Preference is not applicable for this specific occupational series per the Office of Chief Human Capital Officer Bulletin "FY2025 Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages". Eligible and qualified applications will be reviewed and referred in the following unranked order by grade level:

1. Current Permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. All other applicants.

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.

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.