This Student Trainee position is located within the Nursing Service at the Providence VA Healthcare System, located in Providence, RI. It is an intermittent position, with a Not to Exceed date of 9/16/12026.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/26/2025. You MUST qualify based on education and/or experience as described below: You may qualify based on your education as described below: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Language Proficiency: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Provisions of appendix II-I of chapter 3, this part will be used, as applicable, to determine that title 5 employees in direct patient-care positions meet the English language proficiency requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). Education: Education must lead to a bachelor's degree with specialization in or directly related to the field in which the student trainees will receive training on the job. The degree of specialization in this field must satisfy on graduation the specific educational requirements in the qualification standard for the corresponding two-grade interval positions. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Clinical Data Collection/Documentation Computer Skills Patient Care Requirements for the GS-4 Grade Level: Completion of 2 academic years of post-high school study or associate's degree. The required education must lead to a bachelor's degree with specialization in or directly related to the field in which the student trainees will receive training on the job. The degree of specialization in this field must satisfy on graduation the specific educational requirements in the qualification standard for the corresponding two-grade interval positions. An academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in an accredited college or university. If selected you must: Maintain status as a current student, Maintain good academic standing, at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 grading scale, Adhere to an established work schedule approved by the supervisor, Provide proof of enrollment in a qualifying educational institution and academic transcripts at the end of each academic period and upon request, Perform, successfully, the duties and responsibilities in the assigned position description, Observe all workplace rules, such as dress code, office conduct and behavior, Participate in all VA mandatory training programs (either on-line or in the classroom), Notify the supervisor of any changes in the completion of the educational program, such as graduation date, changes in the major degree requirements, or changes in the educational institution's accreditation. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Physical Requirements: Duties require extensive periods of sitting, standing, and walking. Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, pushing, stretching and similar activities. The POA is able to rotate to all tours and on occasion, be reassigned to any nursing sections. Must be able to accommodate varying schedules and workload within established regulatory parameters. The POA must be able to physically lift a minimum of 35 pounds.
The position is an intermediate developmental position; Incumbents will be given opportunities to provide basic nursing care and procedures in alignment with the competencies learned in the academic setting and validated by VA staff in order to provide care to patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions in a health care setting. The significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision, are learning to perform complex nursing skills, and will refer issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded SNTs, Licensed staff or other healthcare professionals. The position may perform theses duties in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient, inpatient, home or community living care, acute, sub-acute. The position is responsible for appropriately utilizes glucose monitoring machine to collect and document appropriate glucose readings for assigned veteran, observation of patients, performs aspects of nursing care to meet patient's needs for the following: Personal Hygiene, Physical comfort, Activity, Exercise, Rest, Nutrition, Elimination, Prevention of Skin Breakdown, Rehabilitative Aspects of Care Engages in-group activities such as off-station trips, reality orientation, current events and other therapeutic groups Sets up patient care related equipment, Organizes and obtains routine supplies and equipment Assists with orienting patient/family to unit routines and policies, monitors patients according to levels of observations i.e. (I:I Veterans as well as Veterans observation status.) Performing and documenting prescribed medical treatment and interventions for patients, such as diabetic urine testing and blood testing, simple dressing changes utilize rehabilitative principles to promote patient independence and recovery Encouraging and guiding them in bowel and bladder training and all aspects of AM Engaging in-group activities such as off-station trips, reality orientation, current events and other therapeutic groups Work Schedule: Intermittent (Per Diem) for up to 1 Year with rotations to weekends/holidays, day shift, evening shift or overnight shift and other shifts; Schedules vary based on assignment. Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Student Trainee (Medical)/PDS10136 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: This is an Intermittent (Per Diem) for up to 1 Year position which may be extended or converted to a permanent position without further competitive procedures. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.