Nursing Assistant - Patient Care Service

Summary

The LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center is seeking a Full-Time, Nursing Assistant at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center within the Patient Care Service.

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Duties

The Nursing Assistant will function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher grade Nursing Assistants and licensed nursing staff in the care of patients.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Adheres to VA and Nursing policies, procedures and standards.
• Delivers care to patients in a respectful, non-judgmental manner.
• Maintains patient privacy/confidentiality and patient rights to privacy/confidentiality.
• Sets limits within the Nursing Assistant/patient relationship, which are clearly defined.
• Participates in selected Performance Improvement (PI) activities as directed.
• Assists with selected activities related to patient admission/transfer and discharge.
• Collects patient information including observation of overall condition.
• Recognizes and reports obvious changes in patient condition including emergencies.
• Takes appropriate actions in response to patient emergent situations.
• Accurately documents patient information on flow sheets and a Computerized Patient Reporting System (CPRS).
• Provides patient information to the accountable RN for inclusion in the patient's plan of care.
• Completes assignments, reports to the accountable RN when assignment has been completed, or when unable to complete activities.
• Uses appropriate lifting/moving/transfer techniques/devices.
• Utilizes infection control and universal standard precautions.
• Participates in the interdisciplinary team care planning and delivery of care process.
• Is knowledgeable of stages of adult development and how it may relate to nursing care; provides input to RN related to patient's stage of adult development and provides care to patients in a variety of stages of adult development.
• Safely performs the following functions:
• Provides routine hygienic/activities of daily living care.
• Performs actions targeted to the maintenance/restoration of skin integrity.
• Collects patient specimens.
• Administers a variety of comfort measures.
• Takes vital signs after completion of orientation and competency validation.
• Follows seizure precautions as directed.
• Transports patients with oxygen.
• Appropriately uses protective/restraining devices.
• Feeds patients orally including those who are at risk for aspiration, after appropriate training.
• Reports situations including, but not limited to:
• Changes in behavior.
• Wandering
• Sun-downing
• Sleep disturbances
• Inappropriate sexual behavior
• Aggressive behavior
• Hallucinations (visual/auditory)
• Incontinence
• Swallowing problems
• Abnormal vital signs
• Recognizes communication barriers.
• Promotes correct use of ambulation devices.
• Monitors patients on 1:1 observation using worksheets and assignment sheets.
• Assists with toileting activities as appropriate. Applies and provides routine care for a condom catheter.
• Performs finger stick blood glucose using the blood glucose monitor.
• Completes purposeful rounding of patients, assisting with any care needs, keeping team lead and charge nurse informed of any patient issues/concerns.
• Maintains a safe/clean/stocked work environment.
• Demonstrates appropriate actions in environmental emergencies.
• Utilizes equipment in a safe manner.
• Reports unsafe equipment and working conditions to appropriate individuals.
• Completes mandatory safety training/annual reviews.
• Interacts in a courteous/respectful manner with with patients, families and visitors as well as with co-workers/members of other services.
• Uses appropriate channels of communication.
• Follows verbal and/or written directions.
• Adheres to uniform policy.
• Maintains appropriate boundaries when dealing with patients/significant others/families and all staff.
• Assumes an appropriate amount of work/responsibility for group projects.
• Works within the current workflow processes to improve timeliness of patient care.
• Stocks, replenishes patient rooms and care areas with appropriate equipment and supplies necessary for patient care.
  

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 8:00 PM & 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Rotating Holidays and Weekends.

Compressed/Flexible: Six 12-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift per pay period.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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Requirements

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. 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 dentification 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
  
  

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

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  United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• [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.

Grade Determinations:

• 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, 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). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 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.
  

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: Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking and working outdoors or in portable building or tent. Lifting up to 35 pounds intermittently for 8-12 hours, moderate carrying (15-35 pounds) intermittently for 8 to 12 hours, lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care, pulling for 8 to 12 hours, intermittently, pushing for 8-12 hours, intermittently, reaching above the shoulders for 8-12 hours, intermittently, both hands required, walking 8-12 hours, intermittently, standing 8-12 hours intermittently, kneeling 8 to 12 hours, intermittently, repeated bending for 8-12 hours, intermittently, climbing and use of both legs and arms for 8-12 hours, intermittently, both legs required, near vision at 13 to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing aid permitted, twisting, simply grasp and fine manipulation.

Education


IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.



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/.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

In accordance with Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) Bulletin, Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages dated 10/01/2024, Veteran's Preference will not be applied to this occupation.

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