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).

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-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 https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 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.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional 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 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized