Nursing Assistant (Open and Continuous Announcement)

Nursing Assistant

This is an Open Continuous Announcement (OCA) that will be used to fill multiple nursing assistant vacancies at the East Orange (EO) and Lyons facilities of the VA NJ Health Care System. Eligible candidates will be referred as long as there are vacancies. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The specific duties of the position will be based on the unit/assignment for which the applicant is selected. General nursing assistant duties include, but are not limited to:

• Will be assigned to veterans requiring nursing care in all areas where nursing is provided.
• Ensures all areas of the unit are clean and neat.
• Performs preventative, rehabilitative, restorative nursing procedures: e.g., active and/or passive range of motion exercises (ROM) to assist and motivate the veteran to achieve maximum independence in activities of daily living.
• Assembles and prepares equipment for procedures and assists the nurse or physician with dressings, infusions, blood work, spinal tap, bone marrow aspiration, cut down, traction set-up, hypothermia therapy, etc.
• Performs veteran care treatments such as simple dressings not requiring medications (e.g. protective dressing on ankles, heels, elbows, etc.).
• Takes emergency measures calls for the nurse and/or physician and assists with resuscitation procedure in cardiac and/or respiratory arrest.
• Responds to call bells timely.
• Escorts veterans to on-station and off-station activities/appointments as needed/assigned
• Serves as a role model and leader for veterans and peers by displaying a positive attitude and team spirit including assisting new NAs with their orientation and assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting.
• Encourages and supports appropriate and independent behaviors of veterans.

Work Schedule: Multiple tours, to be discussed during the interview.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized, may be paid to highly qualified candidates within Mental Health and Geriatrics and Extended Care.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be 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 nursing assistant 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.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized