Nursing Assistant - Patient Care Service

Nursing Assistant

The LTC Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center is seeking a Full-Time, Nursing Assistant at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center within the Patient Care Service. Responsibilities include:

Adhering to VA and Nursing policies, procedures, and standards.

Delivering care to patients in a respectful, non-judgmental manner.

Maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality.

Participating in selected Performance Improvement activities.

Assisting with patient admission, transfer, and discharge activities.

Collecting patient information and observing overall condition.

Recognizing and reporting changes in patient condition, including emergencies.

Taking appropriate actions in response to patient emergent situations.

Accurately documenting patient information.

Using appropriate lifting, moving, and transfer techniques.

Utilizing infection control and universal standard precautions.

Participating in interdisciplinary team care planning and delivery.

Providing routine hygienic/activities of daily living care.

Performing actions targeted to the maintenance/restoration of skin integrity.

Collecting patient specimens.

Administering a variety of comfort measures.

Taking vital signs after completion of orientation and competency validation.

Following seizure precautions as directed.

Transporting patients with oxygen.

Appropriately using protective/restraining devices.

Feeding patients orally including those who are at risk for aspiration.

Reporting situations including changes in behavior, wandering, sleep disturbances, inappropriate sexual behavior, aggressive behavior, hallucinations, and incontinence.

Recognizing communication barriers.

Promoting correct use of ambulation devices.

Monitoring patients on 1:1 observation using worksheets and assignment sheets.

Assisting with toileting activities as appropriate.

Applying and providing routine care for a condom catheter.

Performing finger stick blood glucose using the blood glucose monitor.

Completing purposeful rounding of patients, assisting with any care needs, keeping team lead and charge nurse informed of any patient issues/concerns.

Maintaining a safe/clean/stocked work environment.

Demonstrating appropriate actions in environmental emergencies.

Utilizing equipment in a safe manner.

Reporting unsafe equipment and working conditions to appropriate individuals.

Completing mandatory safety training/annual reviews.

Interacting in a courteous/respectful manner with patients, families, and visitors as well as with co-workers/members of other services.

Using appropriate channels of communication.

Following verbal and/or written directions.

Adhering to uniform policy.

Maintaining appropriate boundaries when dealing with patients/significant others/families and all staff.

Assuming an appropriate amount of work/responsibility for group projects.

Working within the current workflow processes to improve timeliness of patient care.

Stocking, replenishing patient rooms and care areas with appropriate equipment and supplies necessary for patient care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 PM - 8:00 AM Compressed/Flexible: Six 12-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift per pay period.

Requirements:

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.

You may be required to serve a probationary period.

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).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.

Qualifications:

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.

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.

Grade Determinations:

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

GS-4 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, healthcare 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 (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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ 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