This Nursing Assistant position is at the Boston VA Healthcare System, located at one of the following campuses: West Roxbury, Brockton, or Jamaica Plain.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement,07/28/2025 . Basic Requirements: 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. United States Citizenship: 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 Nursing Assistant; OR, One year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation; OR, 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. To qualify for this position, you must meet the Basic Requirements as well as any additional grade-level qualification requirements. Grade Determinations:GS-3 Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 Experience: One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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 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 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 Must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/81 Part II Appendix G46.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 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 with assistance and transferring of objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The incumbent must be able to navigate all areas of the facility. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 Medical Center. 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.
This is an open continuous announcement until 07/28/2025. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. The purpose of this position is to serve as a Nursing Assistant, as a member of the Nurse Service team and assist higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team 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. All duties performed will be provided under close supervision/ direction of a Licensed Practical Nurse or RN and refer issues/questions to supervisors or other healthcare professionals. Depending on grade and assignment duties may include but are not limited to: Provides care to acutely ill patients including baths, personal hygiene, nutrition/feeding, elimination, intake and output. Assists with all activities of daily living (ADL). May initiate and assist with CPR per hospital policy. Practices under the model of Patient Centered Care while exhibiting the ICARE values. Maintains full patient confidentiality. Participates in the admission, transfer and discharge of patients. Prepares patient care rooms for admissions or transfers; Assists with removing patient specific items from the room at discharge. Supports and assists patient with turning, moving, or transferring from bed to chair, commode etc. and utilize lift equipment to practice safe patient handling. Performs assigned clinical procedures, such as; application of External Urinary Device's (EUD) and colostomy bags, unsterile soaks and compresses, hot and cold applications, elastic hose, binders, bladder scanning, and oral suctioning. Performs assigned technical procedures, such as blood glucose monitoring and quality controls, EKG's, taking and recording blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration, height, weight, incentive spirometer, collecting specimens, such as expectorated sputum, feces, urine-voided midstream and drainage collection bag. Documents vital signs, nursing care and belongings inventory list in the electronic medical record and on appropriate flow sheet. Assists the physician or nurse with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. As directed provides assistance with transporting patients independently from tests, procedures and appointments. Provides care for behavioral ill or restrained patients. Assignments may include restraint monitoring, safety monitoring and/or require physical checks every 15 minutes. Observes patient receiving I.V. fluids and reports swelling, pain and or wetness at the needle site. Observes patient and reports changes in appearance, including physical and emotional reactions and reports to RN/LPN. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full time and various shifts; will be discussed with hiring official. Day shift Monday-Friday only Day shift with rotations including weekends/holidays (typical shift is 7:30am-4pm; hours may vary) Evening shift (typical shift is 3:30pm-12midnight; hours may vary per unit) Overnight shift (typical shift is 11:30pm-8am; hours may vary per unit) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: PD00000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. PCS: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized NOTIFICATIONS: This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 07/28/2025 . The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 12 May 2025, with subsequent cut-off dates bi-weekly. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is in the Excepted Service. These positions are NAGE and AFGE Bargaining Unit positions. These positions are covered by a special rate. Incomplete applications will not be considered.