Nursing Assistant

Description:

The Nursing Assistant (NA) at the full performance level (GS-05) functions as a vital member of the outpatient interdisciplinary healthcare team within Primary Care and Specialty Care Clinics. The NA provides direct and indirect patient care to Veterans with complex and varying healthcare needs, including those requiring preventative, acute, sub-acute, chronic disease, maintenance, palliative, or end-of-life support.

Requirements:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/11/2026

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: Must be proficient in written and spoken English

[Experience or] Education or Training.
(1) [Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR,]
(2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation (must submit TRANSCRIPT with application); OR,
(3) Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related [training] course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA may also meeting full the experience requirements for GS-3.

Grade Determinations:
In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

1. GS-3 NA (Entry Level)
   1. Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements
2. GS-4 NA
   1. 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,
   2. 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; (must submit TRANSCRIPT with application); AND
   3. 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.
3. GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level).
   1. 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. (i.) Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. (ii.) Ability to observe patients/ residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. (iii.) 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. (iv.) Ability to communicate effectively with patients/ residents, their families and other health professionals. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c)below; OR,
   2. Education. Successful completion of 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; (must submit TRANSCRIPT with application); AND
   3. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience working in an outpatient primary care setting, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and supporting RN/LVN workflows
• Experience in exam room turnover, including room preparation, disinfecting, stocking clinical areas, maintaining supply par levels to support efficient clinic flow
• Proficiency in obtaining and documenting vital signs, including manual blood pressure, pain assessment, height/weight, and completion of required screenings in an electronic health record.
• Experience processing laboratory specimens, including centrifuging, aliquoting, and preparing samples for courier pick-up in accordance with CLIA and facility protocols.
• Phlebotomy, including venipuncture, capillary draws (blood glucose), specimen labeling, and adherence to safety and infection-control standards.

Reference can be found at the VA Qualification Repository, VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) GS-0621 Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard, dated 5/22/2024.

The 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-03 to GS-05.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.