Nursing Assistant (Medicine Telemetry)

Job Opportunity Announcement

This is a job opportunity announcement (JOA) that will be used to fill two (2) vacant nursing assistant positions with the 4B / C unit in the acute care department at the Richmond VA Medical Center. The positions are open to all nursing assistants currently seeking employment in Richmond, VA. Resumes will be referred to the hiring manager once the vacancy closes on Monday, December 1st. You will receive an email notification when your resume has been referred to the hiring manager, if applicable.

Responsibilities : The 4B / 4C medicine telemetry nursing assistant receives basic training in performing certain patient care duties. They are assigned on a regular basis to a patient ward and work a rotating tour of duty following formal classroom instruction and demonstration of competency in the nursing assistant duties, along with a few specific healthcare tech duties. Under carefully planned and controlled conditions in the clinical area, they perform the following tasks, which require knowledge of patient or nursing care procedures, but is also trained to recognize emergent situations and take necessary action.

Major duties :

• Gives and assists with all types of cleansing baths and gives skin care to prevent complications and promote healing.
• Gives and assists with oral care and hygiene, including denture care.
• Assists with the use of bedpans and urinals.
• Applies external catheters and maintains patency or drainage.
• Assists with bowel and bladder training.
• Assists in providing ostomy care for established and uncomplicated ostomies under the direction of the LPN / RN.
• Maintains correct body positions.
• Turns patients as required using all types of supporting and comfort devices.
• Assists or provides patient transfers, activities, e.g. ambulation, litter, and or wheelchair to bed.
• Escorts patients to tests as needed.
• Meets the need for safe therapeutic environment by employing principals of medical asepsis, maintaining ward cleanliness by daily cleaning of patient unit and areas.
• Demonstrates recognition of cognitive, physical, emotional, and chronological maturation of adult and geriatric patient's needs and possesses an understanding of how to compensate for these changes.
• Takes and records temperatures, blood pressure, pulse, 02 saturation, pain, height, and weight.
• May also obtain and record vitals on patients requiring more than routine vital signs of the immediate post-op patient and patients who have uncomplicated special diagnostic procedures (i.e. : cardiac catheterization, post angiography, para and thoracentesis, post pacer placement, etc.)
• Coverage of care of patients requiring direct care / 1 : 1 observation.
• Other duties as assigned by nurse manager.

Work Schedule : 1530-2400 (8 hour shifts) or 2330- 0800 / 1930-0800 (8 or 12 hour shifts)

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) : Not Authorized

Pay : Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Paid Time Off : 37-50 days of annual paid time off 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 VA

Insurance : Federal health / vision / dental / term life / long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

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.

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 evaluation.

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 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.

Qualifications : 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.

[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.

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.

Grade Determinations : GS-3 Nursing Assistant (NA) : None beyond the Basic Requirements.

GS-4 Nursing Assistant (NA) : (a) EXPERIENCE : One year of specialized experience as an 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, (b) EDUCATION : Successful completion of two (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 :

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 Nursing Assistant (NA) : (a) EXPERIENCE : One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) 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