Nursing Assistant

Nursing Assistant

The Nursing Assistant may work in inpatient and outpatient areas, including Medical Center units, the Emergency Department, Community Living Center, Mental Health, Telemetry, and the Ambulatory Care Unit. The position also supports one-to-one observation for high-risk patients and transports or escorts Veterans to procedures and appointments. Work is performed under the supervision of a Nurse Manager or other designated supervisor, with clinical oversight provided by licensed nursing staff.

Major Duties

• Assists Veterans with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, feeding, mobility, and positioning.
• Provides care to patients with acute, subacute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care needs.
• Obtains, monitors, and documents vital signs, weights, intake and output, and other patient observations.
• Reports changes in a patient's physical condition, behavior, mobility, skin condition, or level of consciousness to licensed nursing staff.
• Performs basic nursing procedures in accordance with established policies and clinical direction.
• Provides one-to-one observation and follows prescribed safety precautions for patients who require continuous monitoring.
• Transports and escorts Veterans to procedures, appointments, clinics, imaging, the laboratory, and other treatment areas.
• Collects and transports specimens to the laboratory.
• Assists with skin care, simple dressings, braces, prosthetic devices, and monitoring of intravenous complications, as assigned.
• Supports bladder and bowel retraining and reinforces established patient care plans.
• Promotes patient independence, dignity, privacy, autonomy, and respect.
• Maintains a clean, safe, and organized patient-care environment.
• Uses proper body mechanics and patient-handling equipment when moving, transferring, or positioning Veterans.
• Responds appropriately to emergencies and changes in patient condition by contacting the appropriate nursing personnel.
• Documents care, observations, and patient responses using approved forms and electronic systems.
• Provides information to patients and supports their participation in treatment planning meetings.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team activities, quality-improvement efforts, and unit-based responsibilities.
• Serves as a preceptor or mentor to other Nursing Assistants, as assigned.
• Answers call lights, assists with patient requests, and supports additional unit needs within the scope of the assignment.

Work Schedule: Primarily nights, including rotating weekends and holidays. Tour of duty may consist of 8-hour and 12-hour shifts.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer 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)

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized