QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.

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.
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 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.

CREDITABLE EXPERIENCE.

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

EDUCATION

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. YOUR APPLICATION, RESUME, C.V., AND/OR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION WILL BE VERIFIED. PLEASE FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. ERRORS OR OMISSIONS MAY AFFECT CONSIDERATION FOR EMPLOYMENT.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

• Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you’re a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you’re eligible under their policies.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• Transcript

Veterans’ Preference: In accordance with Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) Bulletin, Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages dated 10/01/2024, Veterans’ Preference will not be applied to this occupation.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/23/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12759152.

• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
• Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Help

DUTIES

• Provide care that offers no evidence or concern of abuse: care is given that demonstrates the Veteran’s right to be free from verbal, sexual, physical and mental abuse. Intervene per policy and report immediately any evidence of care given that demonstrates mistreatment, neglect, and misappropriation of property.
• Ensure the Veteran/resident is wearing the correct identification bracelet.
• Perform, and can mentor other CNAs, in activities of daily living (ADL) by helping Veterans in their physical functioning, to include personal hygiene (bathing), eating, assisting Veterans in and out of bed/wheelchairs using proper lifting techniques and safe patient handling equipment.
• Demonstrate the need for minimal supervision and proficient skill in promoting independence in daily living activities by following the Veteran’s Restorative Plan of Care. Performance demonstrates the Veteran is taught and encouraged to give as much of their self-care as is possible, while respecting the Veteran’s preferences.
• Independently follows the Restorative Plan of Care and performs range of motion exercises, turning and positioning, ambulation and other routine care procedures to complete all restorative exercises in the Plan of Care.
• Perform and can mentor other CNAs in a variety of general nursing duties competently including measurement and accurate recording of vital signs, height, weight, intake and output, smoking safety per Veteran’s smoking assessment, cleansing and retention enemas, tube feeding, post-mortem care, infection control, isolation, simple treatments such as hot and cold packs, changing clean dressings, and applying external catheters.
• Perform, under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, and when assigned, catheter care, oral -pharyngeal suctioning and tracheostomy suctioning and tracheostomies that are non-complicated and at least five days old.
• Maintain and monitor oxygen therapy as directed by the RN, assignment or written care plan, to include management and operation of oxygen tanks.
• Apply binders, splints, supportive devices, braces, and other simple devices to aid Veterans in positioning for therapy, apply hot and cold packs, prepare patients for tests, examinations, and treatments. Collect specimens such as urine, specimen and stool, correctly label specimens for laboratory examinations and assure timely transportation of specimens.
• Apply ointments, shampoos, and creams considered medications under the Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP Policy) and mentor fellow CNAs in performing medication administration per policy.
• Review the Veteran’s/resident’s treatment plan and follow the plan in performing resident care. Update the plan of care in the resident’s room to remain current with IDT and/ or Nursing Care Plan in the medical record, and report/verify changes and discrepancies to the charge nurse.
• Participate in CLC activity and actions to improve the quality of care for residents/Veterans to include fall intervention and prevention of pressure sores.
• Participate in the nursing care conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings, using knowledge of the Veteran/resident and report resident/Veteran problems, help plan individualized care and discharge planning.
• Inspect devices and determine if the device is safe to use, or remove the device, notify supervisor, and implement the process to have the device repaired.
  Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf
  Work Schedule: To be determined by Supervisor - rotating weekends
  Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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)
  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 #: 000000
  Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• Transcrip

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/23/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12759152.

• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
• Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• Transcrip