SUMMARY

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:

• U.S. 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 spoken and written 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; 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.
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).

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.

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.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• Contributes to a safe, clean, & therapeutic environment for patients & staff by maintaining clean equipment, patient’s rooms & 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 & simple dressings that do not require packing, irrigation, debridement, or medications. Wrap stumps, irrigates & stabilizes ostomies, changes ostomy appliances & performs bowel & bladder training as outlined by treatment plan.
• Observes PIV/CVC for redness, swelling, or pain & reports findings to RN.
• Provides urinary/catheter care to include perineal hygiene & the application of external catheters.
• Assists with the rehabilitation of patients & in the prevention of deformities by correct position & assisting with activities of daily living to include ambulation.
• Measures & records vital signs to include temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure & measuring height & weight. Measures & records intake & output. Recognizes overt abnormal signs & symptoms &/or changes in patients’ condition & responds appropriately. Self-directed in seeking out RN, Lead Nurse, or Charge Nurse to report patient-related information.
• Observes & reports patient complaints, results of treatments performed, change in patient’s condition, behavior &/or attitude.
• Observes & reports both obvious & 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 & Clinicomp/Essentris per policy. Documentation is consistent, accurate, concise, & timely.
• Applies safety devices as directed to include soft ankle & wrist restraints, Twice-as-Tough Restraints & padded side rails. Reports abusive, aggressive, threatening behaviors & documents such actions via Disruptive Behavior Reporting System.
• 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.
• Performs bladders scans, EKGs, & collects urine, sputum, MRSA Nares or stool specimens per the RN’s direction.
• Reports all patient critical glucose measurements immediately to nurse responsible for patient’s care.
• When indicated, assists RN by placing patients on telemetry monitoring. Verifies proper patient & placement with telemetry technician.
• Initiates cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or activates Code Blue in accordance with established medical center policy for patients found unresponsive &/or not breathing.
• Monitors patient’s compliance & use of oxygen with guidance from the RN to ensure adequate perfusion & proper flow settings. Performs oral suctioning on selected patients as directed by the RN.
• Demonstrates compliance with infection control practices, such as hand washing & wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment. Demonstrates safe work practices

DUTIES

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• Contributes to a safe, clean, & therapeutic environment for patients & staff by maintaining clean equipment, patient’s rooms & 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 & simple dressings that do not require packing, irrigation, debridement, or medications. Wrap stumps, irrigates & stabilizes ostomies, changes ostomy appliances & performs bowel & bladder training as outlined by treatment plan.
• Observes PIV/CVC for redness, swelling, or pain & reports findings to RN.
• Provides urinary/catheter care to include perineal hygiene & the application of external catheters.
• Assists with the rehabilitation of patients & in the prevention of deformities by correct position & assisting with activities of daily living to include ambulation.
• Measures & records vital signs to include temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure & measuring height & weight. Measures & records intake & output. Recognizes overt abnormal signs & symptoms &/or changes in patients’ condition & responds appropriately. Self-directed in seeking out RN, Lead Nurse, or Charge Nurse to report patient-related information.
• Observes & reports patient complaints, results of treatments performed, change in patient’s condition, behavior &/or attitude.
• Observes & reports both obvious & 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 & Clinicomp/Essentris per policy. Documentation is consistent, accurate, concise, & timely.
• Applies safety devices as directed to include soft ankle & wrist restraints, Twice-as-Tough Restraints & padded side rails. Reports abusive, aggressive, threatening behaviors & documents such actions via Disruptive Behavior Reporting System.
• 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.
• Performs bladders scans, EKGs, & collects urine, sputum, MRSA Nares or stool specimens per the RN’s direction.
• Reports all patient critical glucose measurements immediately to nurse responsible for patient’s care.
• When indicated, assists RN by placing patients on telemetry monitoring. Verifies proper patient & placement with telemetry technician.
• Initiates cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or activates Code Blue in accordance with established medical center policy for patients found unresponsive &/or not breathing.
• Monitors patient’s compliance & use of oxygen with guidance from the RN to ensure adequate perfusion & proper flow settings. Performs oral suctioning on selected patients as directed by the RN.
• Demonstrates compliance with infection control practices, such as hand washing & wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment. Demonstrates safe work practices.

Work Schedule: 7:00am-7:30pm or 7:00pm-7:30am
Compressed/Flexible: Available
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 #: 51162-A, 51163-A & 51164-A
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)
• PCS Orders
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• 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 09/25/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12793408.

• 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