Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

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This position will serve as a Transporter/Nursing Assistant (NA) in the Nursing Business Operation Service at the Veteran Affairs Southern Nevada Medical Center (VASNHS) Las Vegas, Nevada. The Transporter/Nursing Assistant (NA) is responsible for the safe, efficient, and compassionate transfer of patients, specimens, and supplies throughout the healthcare facility. This position also assists with basic patient care tasks as assigned, under the supervision of nursing staff, and other duties as assigned by the Nurse Manager or designee.
The major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Safely transports patients using wheelchairs, beds, stretchers, or other assistive devices between various facility locations (e.g., patient rooms, surgery, radiology, therapy, discharge area).
• Ensures patient identification, comfort, privacy, and safety during transit.
• Provides escort and/or assistance to patients with limited mobility including patients requiring special precautions, under appropriate nursing supervision.
• Assists with the transfer of acute patients in collaboration with Registered Nurses (RN), or other qualified staff.
• Transports laboratory specimens
• Assists with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as personal hygiene, feeding, and mobility under supervision.
• Obtains and records vital signs (weight, blood pressure, temperature, intake and output), and performs routine diagnostic procedures (e.g., EKG, glucometry, pulse oximetry) as assigned.
• Assists patients with transfers from bed to chair, or bed to bedside commode using proper body mechanics and/or safe patient handling equipment per policy to ensure safety to self and patient.
• Provides 1:1 observation for homicidal or suicidal patients, patients who are a danger to themselves or others, or due to a high fall risk as directed by the Management, Charge Nurse or designee and documents per policy.
• Cleans, maintains, and stores transport equipment (wheelchairs, stretchers, etc.) and reusable medical equipment in line with infection prevention and medical center policy.
• Communicates effectively with medical staff, patients, and families regarding transport times and patient needs.
• Responds promptly and professionally to patient needs, concerns, and questions.
• Documents transport activity and patient care tasks according to established procedures.
• Treats all patients, visitors, and co-workers with dignity, respect, and civility.
• Demonstrates commitment to patient safety, comfort, and service excellence at all times.
• Maintains compliance with hospital policies and all health and safety regulations.
• Participates in mandatory education and training.
• Observes and monitors patients and communicates and documents care given during the transportation/escort process. Report's status of patients and changes noted to the registered nurse at escort destination.
• Continually monitors patient flow, identifies existing and potential problem areas or delays in processing a Veteran's medical care request.
• Monitor's environment of care and initiates corrective actions to prevent patient injury, reporting problems and resolution to Nurse Manager, Charge Nurse or designee.
• Recognizes emergency situations (i.e., codes, disasters, fire and safety issues) and takes appropriate and immediate action. Can successfully perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the Heimlich maneuver.
• Demonstrates and adheres to all aspects of Veteran Centered Care concepts, ICARE, and the Code of Conduct in daily work/interactions with others.
• Monitors patients remotely via virtual sitting/telesitting.
• Performs additional related duties as assigned.

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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
• Probationary/Trial Period: As a condition of employment for accepting the position of Nursing Assistant with the Department of Veterans Affairs, you will be required to serve a 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 the following:
• 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. If you do not receive certification for continued employment, you should receive written notice prior to the end of your trial period hat your employment will be terminated and the effective date of such termination.
• 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.

Qualifications

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.
• 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.

• 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 below;

• 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

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.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the 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.