Nursing Assistant

The Nursing Assistant serves in the Resource Pool within Nursing Operations at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System. The position provides care and support to Veterans with acute, subacute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care needs. Assignments may involve complex nursing needs that vary with a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Nursing Assistant may work in inpatient and outpatient areas, including Medical Center units, the Emergency Department, Community Living Center, Mental Health, Telemetry, and the Ambulatory Care Unit. The position also supports one-to-one observation for high-risk patients and transports or escorts Veterans to procedures and appointments. Work is performed under the supervision of a Nurse Manager or other designated supervisor, with clinical oversight provided by licensed nursing staff.

Major Duties Assists Veterans with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, feeding, mobility, and positioning. Provides care to patients with acute, subacute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care needs. Obtains, monitors, and documents vital signs, weights, intake and output, and other patient observations.

Reports changes in a patient's physical condition, behavior, mobility, skin condition, or level of consciousness to licensed nursing staff. Performs basic nursing procedures in accordance with established policies and clinical direction. Provides one-to-one observation and follows prescribed safety precautions for patients who require continuous monitoring.

Transports and escorts Veterans to procedures, appointments, clinics, imaging, the laboratory, and other treatment areas. Collects and transports specimens to the laboratory. Assists with skin care, simple dressings, braces, prosthetic devices, and monitoring of intravenous complications, as assigned.

Supports bladder and bowel retraining and reinforces established patient care plans. Promotes patient independence, dignity, privacy, autonomy, and respect. Maintains a clean, safe, and organized patient-care environment.

Uses proper body mechanics and patient-handling equipment when moving, transferring, or positioning Veterans. Responds appropriately to emergencies and changes in patient condition by contacting the appropriate nursing personnel. Documents care, observations, and patient responses using approved forms and electronic systems.

Provides information to patients and supports their participation in treatment planning meetings. Participates in interdisciplinary team activities, quality-improvement efforts, and unit-based responsibilities. Serves as a preceptor or mentor to other Nursing Assistants, as assigned.

Answers call lights, assists with patient requests, and supports additional unit needs within the scope of the assignment. Work Schedule: Primarily nights, including rotating weekends and holidays. Tour of duty may consist of 8-hour and 12-hour shifts.

Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 40929F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorize Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VAInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. 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 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: 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. 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. GRADE REQUIREMENTS.

Creditable Experience. Knowledge of Current Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice Quality of Experience.

To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek.

For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-3 (Entry Level) Experience [and] Education [ ]. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 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, 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 resident's 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-5 NA (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.

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. Assignment. This is the full performance level for NAs. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub acute or chronic states of illness.

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. NAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role. Preferred

Experience

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) experience preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS05. Physical

Requirements

Position requires extended periods of standing and walking, frequent bending, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, and assisting with patient transfers and transportation. Incumbent must be able to use safe patient handling equipment and techniques and respond appropriately to patient care emergencies

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…