Nursing Assistant (Spinal Cord Injury Center)
What you'd do
This position is for a Nursing Assistant (GS-3/4/5) on the nursing care team at the Spinal Cord Injury Center, South Texas VA Healthcare System, assisting licensed staff with Veterans' daily living needs, hygiene, mobility, and rehabilitation. Duties expand with grade, from supervised basic care to independent complex care, tracheostomy suctioning, and mentoring newer assistants. Incumbents monitor vitals, document observations, and support treatment plans under RN/LPN direction.
Major duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Position Overview: Career-ladder Nursing Assistant position within Nursing Service at South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Spinal Cord Injury Center, providing care to Veterans with acute to chronic conditions across outpatient, inpatient, home, and Community Living Center (CLC) settings. NAs are members of the nursing care team, providing direct patient care under RN/LVN/LPN clinical direction and Nurse Manager supervision, accountable to the Associate Director of Patient Care Services. May be filled at GS-3, GS-4, or GS-5 with promotion potential to GS-5 as competencies are met. GS-3 (Entry): Works under close supervision; refers issues/questions to supervisors, higher-graded NAs, or other healthcare professionals. Learning basic duties: glucose monitoring, personal hygiene, physical comfort, activity/exercise/rest, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, and rehabilitative aspects of care. Begins using observation skills for data collection and reporting. Assists with patient/family orientation to unit routines and engages in group activities (off-station trips, reality orientation, current events) under close supervision. Trained to set up patient care equipment and organize supplies. GS-4 (Developmental): Works under close supervision with growing independence in performing complex nursing skills; refers issues to supervisors, higher-graded NAs, or licensed staff. Competent in personal hygiene, physical comfort, activity, nutrition, elimination, skin breakdown prevention, and rehabilitative care. Performs and documents prescribed treatments (diabetic urine/blood testing, simple dressing changes), uses diagnostic/treatment equipment (bladder scan, continuous passive motion device, glucose monitoring machine, specimen collection), monitors patients per observation levels (one-to-one suicide watch, continuous observation, 15-minute checks, hourly rounding), sets up equipment (hypothermia machines, oxygen delivery, suction), and begins orienting lower-level NAs. Reports patient status and observations to the RN according to established procedures. GS-5 (Full Performance): Functions with more complex, variable patient assignments under RN/LVN/LPN direction; serves as preceptor and mentor to newer NAs, coordinating orientation and assessing practical experience. Administers complete tracheostomy care including suctioning; performs enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care/simple dressings, and application of braces and prosthetic devices. Recognizes and reacts to emergent situations, initiating basic life support, controlling bleeding, and assisting with behavior crises while awaiting assistance. Observes and responds to subtle changes in condition (behavior, mood, skin coloring, appetite), actively participates in Treatment Planning Meetings, manages disruptive patient behavior, and contributes to infection control and a safe care environment. Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts, including Nights/Weekends/Holidays 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 #: 54722-F, 54723-F, 54724-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Experience, Education or Training. You must meet one of the following to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA): Six (6) 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; (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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. Grandfathering Provision: 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 stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.Grade Determinations:GS-03 - None beyond the basic requirements. NAs at this grade NAs are considered entry-level and are closely supervised.GS-04 - To qualify at the GS-4 level you must meet the following: EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) AND, in addition you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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 residents' 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-05 - To qualify at the GS-5 level you must meet the following: 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. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home, or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. OR, EDUCATION: Successful completion of 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) AND, in addition you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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. Please provide the contact information for a supervisory reference with your resume. The reference must be a supervisor from within the last three years who can attest to your work experience as a Nursing Assistant, or work that would qualify you as a Nursing Assistant. 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). 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-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05. Physical Requirements: Include moderate lifting and carrying of 15-44 lbs and light lifting and carrying under 15 lbs; straight pulling for 1 hour; pushing for 1-3 hours; reaching above shoulder level; use of fingers, with both hands required; walking up to 4 hours; standing 2-7 hours; sitting up to 8 hours; kneeling up to 2 hours; repeated bending up to 2 hours; climbing using both legs and arms, with both legs required; rapid mental and muscular coordination performed simultaneously; simple grasping for 2-4 hours; fine manipulation, including keyboarding, for 4-6 hours; twisting up to 2 hours; near vision correctable to 13"-16" at Jaeger 1-4; a specific visual requirement of 20/40 DVA, corrected; both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing, with an aid permitted; and mental and emotional stability.
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