Nursing Assistant- Hospitality/Orderly

The Nursing Assistant (NA) functions as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. 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. The NA at this level also assumes a peer education/mentorship.

Duties include but are not limited to:
1. Accurately identifies and reports physical signs, symptoms, and changes noted in patients to RN/supervisor in charge. Also reports patients' complaints which are outside of the NA scope of practice to address.
2. Initiates emergency procedures for which the employee is trained and reports actual and potential safety hazards within the workplace.
3. Monitors Veterans who may be at risk for harming themselves and or others according to established policies and procedures and appropriately refers issues to the charge nurse or other health care professional.
4. Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition, i.e. behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc. and acts/responds accordingly within the NA's assigned role and by contacting the appropriate nursing personal.
5. Obtains patient's vital signs, recognizes obvious discrepancies and report discrepancies to RN/supervisor in charge.
6. Applies knowledge and skill in facilitating the completion of activities of daily living for those patients to whom they are assigned.
7. Identifies the need for and actively participates and contributes information and suggestions to patient-centered conferences and/or Treatment Planning Meetings.
8. Will learn to appropriately utilize glucose monitoring machine to collect and document appropriate glucose readings for assigned Veteran.
9. Learning to be proficient with the utilizing rehabilitative principles to promote patient independence and recovery, encouraging and guiding patient/residents in bowel and bladder training.
10. Promotes positive therapeutic relationships by displaying respect for human dignity with patient, families and/or significant others, and staff utilizing learned communication skills.
11.Begins to utilize observation skills for data collection, reporting and recording patient/resident observations.
12. Performs aspects of nursing care to meet patient's needs for the following:
a. Personal Hygiene
b. Physical Comfort
c. Activity, Exercise, Rest
d. Nutrition
e. Elimination
f. Prevention of Skin Breakdown
g. Rehabilitative Aspects of Care
h. Mental Well-Being (Whole Health)
13. Engaging in-group activities such as off-station trips, reality orientation, current events and other therapeutic groups with direction and close supervision.
14. Reports patient observations to the RN and or other members of the treatment team.
15. Maintains and set up patient care related equipment.
16. Organizes and obtains routine supplies and equipment.
17. Assist with orienting patient/family to unit routines and policies.
18. Work as a cooperative, courteous member of the interdisciplinary team.
19. Safeguarding the patient's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature.
20. Monitors patients according to levels of observations i.e. (one to one suicide, continuous observation, q 15-minute checks, and hourly rounding.
21. Demonstrates proper safety practices. Follow all safety procedures and wears protective clothing/equipment as appropriate (Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)).
22. Utilizes equipment and supplies according to procedures for use of patient care equipment to prevent injury to self or others in all settings such as utilization of lifting equipment.
23. Promotes and demonstrates principles of proper body mechanics while caring for patients and utilizes technical skills appropriately adjusting techniques for patients.
24. Facilitates in the transfer and transport of patients.

Preferred Experience:

• 1 year experience as a healthcare provider/ nursing assistant experience (acute care &/or long term care)
• Nursing Assistant (CNA/LNA) &/or Medical Assistant training/certification
• Demonstrated ability to provide safe, compassionate, and patient-centered care; familiarity with supporting nursing workflows; commitment to shared decision-making; and active participation in creating a positive, team-based practice environment (Pathway to Excellence Journey).

Work Schedule: Full-Time, 0630-1500. Tour subject to change depending on the needs of facility.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
• 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.
• Experience or Education or Training.
  • Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR
  • One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation;
  • OR
  • Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related [training] course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.

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:
GS-3 NA (Entry Level)
(a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
(b) Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.

GS-4 NA
(a) Experience. One year of specialized experience as a NA 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,
(b) Education. Successful completion of 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
(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
i Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
ii Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
iii 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.
iv Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.

GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level).
(a) 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.
i 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.
ii 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.
iii 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 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.

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. See VA Handbook 5019 and local NA physical standards. Examples may include but are not limited to:- Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients- Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols Position specific duties/expectations are detailed in the associated competency and should be performed once the competency has been validated. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• 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.