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GS-3 ASSIGNED FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintains a positive therapeutic relationship by displaying respect for human dignity with patients, families and/or significant others utilizing learned communication skills.
• Utilizes observation skills for data collection, reporting and recording veteran/resident observations.
• Performs reporting, communication and documentation in the computerized EHR, Caribou, Microsft Teams, Outlook ) with other members of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team.
• Performs aspects of nursing care to meet patient's needs for the following under close supervision of RN or LPN: (personal hygiene and grooming, physical comfort, activity, exercise, rest, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, and rehabilitative aspects of care.
• Engages in group activities such as off-station trips, reality orientation, current events and other therapeutic groups.
• Responsible for escorting veterans /residents and transporting items within the campus.
• Utilizes principles of proper body mechanics and follows procedures for use of patient care equipment to prevent injury to self or others in all settings such as utilization of lifting equipment.
• Organizes and obtains routine supplies and equipment.
• Assists with orienting patient/family to unit routines and policies.
• Works as a cooperative, courteous member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Safeguards the patient's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature.
• Uses proper safety practices.
• Utilizes equipment and supplies according to procedures.
• Completes all mandatory training within appropriate timeliness and maintain BLS.
• Expected to work towards obtaining CNA certification. Actively participates in annual competency assessment and validation.
• Any additional tasks associated within the position description.

GS-4 ASSIGNED FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
• Observes patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
• 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.
• Communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.
• Any additional tasks associated within the position description.

GS-5 ASSIGNED FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Demonstrates all competencies at the GS-3 and GS-4 skills level in addition to:

• Assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in an inpatient setting.
• Communicates orally with veterans/residents, families, interdisciplinary team and other personnel.
• Serves as a preceptor to new nursing assistants by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting.
• Recognizes and reacts to emergent veteran/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance (example - recognizing the need for basic life support, controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis, etc.).
• Utilizes glucose monitoring machine, records reading and refers deviations to appropriate staff.
• Observes subtle changes in resident's condition and takes the appropriate action.
• Documents all care given and observes changes within the patient.
• Administers complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Performs nursing procedures within the scope of practice, according to policies and standard practice.
• Works on small group activities with patients/residents according to their treatment plan.
• Promotes independence and self care.
• Maintains a clean and safe environment.
• Orients members of the health care team to the units as appropriate.
• Initiates basic life support and takes appropriate action.
• Any additional tasks associated within the position description.

Work Schedule: 7:30PM - 08:00AM, (rotating weekends and holidays)
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 08702F.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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.
• 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).
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Experience, Education, or Training. You must meet one of the following to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA):
  1. Six (6) 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 an NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

Grade Requirements:

GS-03 - None beyond the basic requirements. NAs at this grade NAs are considered entry-level and are closely supervised.

GS-04 - To qualify at the GS-4 level, you must meet the following:

• EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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 two (2) years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care, health care 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, in addition, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or residents' physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
3. 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.
4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families, and other health professionals.

GS-05 - To qualify at the GS-5 level, you must meet the following:

• EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level, which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home, or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. 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, in addition, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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 the 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 GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05.

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). 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. 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 re-entry to the occupation.

Preferred Experience: 3 - 5 years Long Term Care experience strongly preferred. Available to work weekends & Holidays; 12-hour Night Shift.

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.

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear, distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The NA may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolationsituations or operative/invasive procedures. The NA may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The NA must be mature, flexible, and sensible. An individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The NA must complete annual employee health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. These physical requirements will be consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019.

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.

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.