- Position Title
- Nursing Assistant (Same Day/Ambulatory Care)
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBTG-13652-11348070-22-SL Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Monday, January 17, 2022 to Monday, January 24, 2022
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Preferences
1.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
2.
Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
Resume Reminder- Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
- Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
- Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
- Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
- Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
Assessment 1
Basic Requirements: In accordance with VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46, dated March 12, 2015, the following are basic requirements for appointment as a Nursing Assistant (NA) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). These requirements apply to all VHA NAs in the GS-0621 occupational series.
English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d) "No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English." NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in order to meet the requirement of this position.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
1.
Are you proficient in basic written and spoken English?
Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Directive 5019, it is a requirement for the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pre-placement medical evaluations or examinations to determine the physical, cognitive, and emotional fitness of a candidate before being appointed. An examination is required in any conversion action from a status or position not requiring a physical examination to one requiring a physical examination. A pre-placement examination is also required when an employee changes positions or duties that have different physical requirements or medical standards from the prior/current position.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
2.
I understand the VA's required pre-placement medical evaluation or examination policy.
Basic Education or Training: You must have one year of education or training above high school with courses related to the NA occupation. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
3.
GS-3 Grade Determination: Did you acquire at least one year of education or training above high school with courses related to the NA occupation? Or, have you completed an intensive, specialized, and occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant?
Grade Requirements: In addition to the Basic Requirements, applicants must also meet ALL of the grade requirements to qualify at the GS-4 and/or GS-5 grade levels:
(1) Knowledge of Current Practice: To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice.
(2) Quality of Experience: To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means.
(3) Part-time Experience: Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS (GS-4 and GS-5): The following questions reference grade determinations for the GS-0621, Nursing Assistant occupation at the intermediate (GS-4) and full-performance level (GS-5). In addition to the basic requirements listed above, the below qualification requirements must be met:
(1) Knowledge of Current Practice: To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice.
(2) Quality of Experience: To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means.
(3) Part-time Experience: Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS (GS-4 and GS-5): The following questions reference grade determinations for the GS-0621, Nursing Assistant occupation at the intermediate (GS-4) and full-performance level (GS-5). In addition to the basic requirements listed above, the below qualification requirements must be met:
- GS-4 Grade Determination:
- Assignment: Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness. The significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs, or other healthcare professionals.
- 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), GS-4: In addition to the experience or education above, 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.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
4.
GS-4 Grade Determination: Do you have the experience OR education listed above, and can you demonstrate the KSAs listed above for the GS-4 grade level?
NOTE: The KSAs MUST be clearly identified in your resume, or an attached KSA document.
NOTE: The KSAs MUST be clearly identified in your resume, or an attached KSA document.
GS-5 Grade Determination:
- Assignment: This is the full performance level for NAs. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub-acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. NAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role.
- 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 described 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 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs), GS-5: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate MUST demonstrate the following 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.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
5.
GS-5 Grade Determination: Do you have the experience OR education listed above, and can you demonstrate the KSAs listed above for the GS-5 grade level?
NOTE: The KSAs MUST be clearly identified in your resume, or an attached KSA document.
NOTE: The KSAs MUST be clearly identified in your resume, or an attached KSA document.
Grandfathering Provisions: All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard (March 12, 2015) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
- Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard (March 12, 2015) may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
- If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
ALTHOUGH NOT REQUIRED, ITS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT APPLICANTS COMPLETE THEIR RESUME' USING THE USAJOBS RESUME' BUILDER. All documents requiring signature must be signed and dated prior to submission in order to be considered complete. Resume' or CV must include the vacancy announcement number, position title, grade, how to contact you, descriptions of jobs held including the name and address of employer, job title, description of duties, beginning and ending dates (month and year) of employment, and average hours worked per week, i.e., 40 hours per week, 32 hours per week, 20 hours per week, etc. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make any assumptions regarding your experience. Please provide details of your experience and clearly document your ability to demonstrate the KSAs of grade level you are applying to.
TRANSCRIPT REMINDER: If you are basing your qualifications on education (or a combination of education and experience) or if the position and/or grade level requires a college education to qualify, you MUST SUBMIT a copy of your TRANSCRIPTS with your application. Diplomas are NOT suitable substitutions for your transcripts and will not be accepted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to identity the required courses for the position that are listed in the education sections. By providing a course description from the college or university if not clearly identifiable on the school's transcripts. We do NOT make assumptions based on the course number that the listed courses meet the education requirements.
VA FORM 10-2850C: Application for Associated Health Professions is a required document upon selection for the position. This document must be completed, signed, and dated where indicated. Failure to submit this completed document when requested by VA will render the applicant ineligible for consideration. You may submit this form at the time of application should you choose to do so.