Nursing Assistant - Acute Care

Summary

This is an Open and Continuous Announcement- OCA- cut off will be every two week of each month until July 14, 2026.

This position is located in the Eastern Colorado Health Care System under Patient Care Services, Inpatient Nursing, Acute Care. The purpose of this position is to provide a range of direct patient care in collaboration with the inpatient nursing team. The incumbent will serve as a member of the nursing team. All work is reviewed by a Registered Nurse (RN).

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Duties

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Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to:

• Contributes to a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment for patients and staff by maintaining clean equipment, patient's rooms and ward areas.
• Cares for patients with communicable diseases for which various isolations precautions may be required. Don the appropriate PPE based on the type of isolation precaution.
• Uses sterile techniques with treatments and simple dressings that do not require packing, irrigation, debridement, or medications. Wrap stumps, irrigates and stabilizes ostomies, changes ostomy appliances and performs bowel and bladder training as outlined by treatment plan.
• Observes PIV/CVC for redness, swelling, or pain and reports findings to RN.
• Provides urinary/catheter care to include perineal hygiene and the application of external catheters.
• Assists with the rehabilitation of patients and in the prevention of deformities by correct position and assisting with activities of daily living to include ambulation. Performs range of motion activities.
• Measures and records vital signs to include temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure and measuring
  height and weight. Measures and records intake and output. Recognizes overt abnormal signs and
  symptoms and/or changes in patients' condition and responds appropriately. Self-directed in seeking out
  RN, Lead Nurse, or Charge Nurse to report patient-related information.
• Observes and reports patient complaints, results of treatments performed, change in patient's condition,
  behavior and/or attitude.
• Observes and reports both obvious and subtle changes in patient's physical condition or emotional status,
• e.g. signs of post-operative shock, hemorrhage, cyanosis, respiratory distress, aspiration of mucous, infiltration of IV, or acute behavior changes or unusual behavior.
• Utilizes the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Clinicomp/Essentris per policy. Documentation is consistent, accurate, concise, and timely.
• Applies safety devices as directed to include soft ankle and wrist restraints, Twice-as-Tough Restraints and padded side rails. Reports abusive, aggressive, threatening behaviors and documents such actions via Disruptive Behavior Reporting System (DBRS). At the RN's direction, initiates Code Yellow as necessary.
• Assists with the admission, discharge, and transfer of patients according to medical center or nursing service policies. Responsible for timely implementation of orders and nursing interventions.
• Adheres to Safe Patient Handling practices for safe body mechanics, use of mechanical devices. Uses sound judgement when requesting assistance from other staff when moving, lifting, or turning patients to prevent injury to patient, self or others.
• Assists in supervising patients in transfer activities, personal hygiene, preventing the spread of infectious diseases and in preventative and rehabilitative aspects of care.
• Follows ECHCS and nursing service policies and procedures for accurately documenting personal belongings and securing patients' belongings to include valuables and prosthetic devices such as dentures, hearing aids, eyes, and limbs.
• Performs bladders scans, EKGs, and collects urine, sputum, MRSA Nares or stool specimens per the RN's direction.

Work Schedule : 0700-1930 / 1900-0730, Variable, Holidays and weekends.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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)

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

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)

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 51164A, 51163A, 51162A

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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: NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

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 : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-3 NA (Entry Level)

• Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements.
• Assignments: Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.

GS-4 NA

• 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,
• 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:

• 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 NA (Full Performance Level)

• 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 (c) 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

Demonstrated KSAs:

• 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.
• Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team and other personnel. This includes serving as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting.
• 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.

Preferred Experience: Inpatient Med Surg Experience preferred, CNA Certification preferred

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

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. It requires assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/litters and transporting them to other departments. In addition to the aforementioned duties, it may involve moving equipment/objects in excess of 40lbs. The position may require the incumbent to go up and down several flights of stairs in response to all emergency codes. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment.

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: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.