VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland, Oregon, outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver, Washington, and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/26/2025. 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. Education or Training- One year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant 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. English Language Proficiency- Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade Determinations: GS-3 Nursing Assistant: Experience and Education- None beyond basic requirements. GS-4 Nursing Assistant: One year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or in another medical field; OR Education- 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). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. 2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. 3. 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. 4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-5 Nursing Assistant: One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level; OR, Education- 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 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinct speech and manual dexterity. Work requires physical activity including extended periods of standing, walking, and bending with occasional periods of sitting, kneeling, climbing, stooping, crouching, and balancing. Work also requires constant reaching between knee and shoulder level as well as frequent reaching below knee level. Frequent fine motor movement of fingers and wrists as well as gross motor movement of elbows and arms is also required. Incumbents in this position may be exposed to infectious/communicable diseases and blood borne pathogens and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. Incumbents must occasionally be able to independently lift up to 50 pounds and push/pull up to 50 pounds of force with grip strength of 65 pounds. The employee is expected to use proper safe patient handling techniques to perform duties. The incumbent may be exposed to veterans 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 veteran needs. The incumbents will be assigned to specific shifts; however, schedules may include varied days, hours, weekends, overtime, holidays, and emergency call-in. Noise level is usually moderate but could at times be extreme. Work may be fast-paced when dealing with multiple priorities and/or emergency situations. The employee must complete annual Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment.
The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: The Nurse Assistant (NA) assigned to the VHAPORHCS Specialty Care Clinics, under the Division of Hospital and Specialty Medicine, provides outpatient clinical services for the subspecialties such as Medicine, Surgery, and Neurology. Services are routinely provided Monday through Friday between the hours of 0730-1800. The NA functions as a team member as assigned by the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) under the guidance of a Registered Nurse or licensed independent practitioner. The NA works at the direction of a licensed nurse, with supervision or monitoring by a licensed nurse. The NA performs patient centered care to Veterans throughout the lifespan, and provides medical assistive care and administration support when needed. The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to observe, identify, and respond to the patient's need for nursing care, recognizing deviations from baseline and reporting to licensed personnel. Nursing procedures include but are not limited to specimen collection, maintaining the care environment, virtual care, dressing removal, home meter downloading, urological procedures,Echocardiogram (EKG), capillary blood glucose test, equipment assisted care, dermatological procedures, vital signs, orthostatic blood pressure measurement, timed walk test, documentation, assisting with invasive and non-invasive procedures, hand hygiene and hand hygiene observation, set up and closing of clinic and supply for operational and continued readiness, use of safe patient handling equipment and assistive devices, handling reusable medical equipment/devices, pre-treatment of reusable medical equipment/devices according to policy, proper disposal of hazardous waste, patient transport and repositioning, preventing falls, maintaining oxygen flow using available equipment at pre-established rate for stable patients, assisting patients with dressing or toileting, emptying catheter or ostomy bags. The incumbent will deploy proactive customer service and active listening and will also engage in rapport building, limit setting, and de-escalation as applicable. The Specialty Care NA must demonstrate flexibility and will be expected to work in multiple clinics and areas within duty station and with multiple services to meet patient volume and acuity demands throughout the shift. Demonstrate the knowledge and ability to provide a full range of care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Works with the LPN and RN to appropriately orient/train less experienced NAs, Health Technicians (HTs), and students in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery. Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes and prescribed treatment regimes. They are expected to exercise greater judgment, require less supervision, and to operate in accordance with all established policies, procedure, and techniques. Completed work may require occasional higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved. The population of Veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. Age-related and cultural interventions appropriate to cognitive, physical, and emotional needs will be employed at all times, tailored to the individual patient, incorporating knowledge of changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development. The incumbent must be poised, articulate, adaptive, and respectful in communicating with and caring for people of varied educational, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Care will be provided to Veterans without discrimination and harassment, tailored to their needs, regardless of a Veteran's age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression. Knows how to obtain translation services for patient or families with limited English language proficiency or who need sign language services. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 08:00am-4:30pm Intermittent Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized