Nursing Assistant

Nursing Assistant

Summary VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) is a Level 1A interdisciplinary teaching and quaternary facility with service-lines serving primary care, emergency medicine, medicine, surgery, specialty, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics and multiple community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC). VAPORHCS operates a Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) which serves homeless Veterans in downtown Portland.

Responsibilities

Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans refers deviation to appropriate health care staff

Provides direct care for complex veterans

Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition, i.e. behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc. and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role

Documents care given, observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms

Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personal

Administers complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning

Monitor and documents patient intake and output reports deviations timely and accurately

Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran for such procedures but not limited to : enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care simple dressing, application of braces and prosthetic devices, monitoring of devices

Works on small group activities with veterans / residents according to the patients / resident treatment plan

Recognizes the residents' autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect, limit setting and individualized treatment

Actively participates in Treatment Planning Meetings

Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care, such as; lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and Veteran / Resident Wandering System

Verbally provides patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran / residents' plan of care, participates in treatment team meetings for resident care planning

Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats

Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient / resident

Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, observes safety regulations, contributes to infection control, and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties

Serves as the unit safe patient handling liaison

Serves as preceptor and mentor to other NA's, Orients members of the health care team to the units as appropriate

Functions as a member of the unit based council

Manages distributed patient behavior and by appropriately intervenes and request assistant from other health care members

Appropriately initiates basic life support, takes actions appropriate action

May provide monitoring of patients via a Continuous Video Monitoring with completion of training requirements

Work Schedule : Days, Nights, Weekends, and Holidays

Telework : Not Available

Functional Statement # : 0000

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

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.

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.

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 1 or 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.

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.

[Experience or] Education or Training. (1) [Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR,] (2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR, (3) 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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations :

Nursing Assistant GS-3 NA (Entry Level) (a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 NA (a) 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, (b) 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 (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs :

i Ability to provide a range of patient / resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients / residents.

ii Ability to observe patients / residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and / or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.

iii 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.

iv Ability to communicate effectively with patients / residents, their families and other health professionals

Preferred Experience : 6 months of hospital nursing assistant experience, Certified Nursing Assistants, and medical terminology knowledge and experience.

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-3. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-4.

Physical Requirements :

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. Exceptions : A pre-placement examination is required for any occupation or assignment that requires the operation of a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties. Examinations may also be required for any occupation or assignment that requires a pre-placement examination by virtue of another policy, regulation, or statute.

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 :