SUMMARY

The Nursing Assistant (Perioperative) functions as a member of the nursing care team in the Perioperative Department at the Salisbury VA Medical Center, Veterans Health Care Network (VISN6), Salisbury, NC.

QUALIFICATIONS

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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Experience, Education or Training. You must meet one of the following to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA):
• Six (6) 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.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• 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.

Preferred Experience: : If you have the experience/certification, please ensure information is listed on your resume.

• 1-3 years of Nursing Assistant experience in Pre/Post Operative Care, Operating Room/housekeeping duties experience, Acute Care, Medical/Surgical specialty areas.
• 1 year of Nursing Assistant experience - Perioperative Care in an Operating Room Setting.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate’s qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.
GS-03 - None beyond the basic requirements. NAs at this grade NAs are considered entry-level and are closely supervised.

GS-04 - To qualify at the GS-4 level you must meet the following:

• EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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,
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of two (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, in addition you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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 residents’ 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.

GS-05 - To qualify at the GS-5 level you must meet the following:

• EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home, or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. OR,
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of 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, in addition you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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.

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).
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05.

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.

(1) Knowledge of and use of proper infection control standards. (2) Knowledge of and provision of safe hazardous waste removal. (3) Knowledge of and provision of properly cleaning blood and body fluid spills and chemotherapeutic agent spills. (4) Knowledge of and use of universal precautions. Utilizes PPE appropriately.

• Provides support duties under direct supervision of the licensed nursing staff that includes assisting with the transfer of patients to nursing units.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and provision of properly cleaning blood and body fluid spills and chemotherapeutic agent spills.
• Utilizes Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriately, performs cleaning in OR rooms between patients, terminal cleaning of OR rooms, and scheduled cleaning of all areas within the Perioperative Unit.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and use of universal precautions and utilizes PPE appropriately.
• Stocks supply items, removes soiled and contaminated linens, changes needle boxes, sweeps and mops floors, keeps dressing rooms clean, orderly, and sanitary conditions, cleans stretchers, dusts and cleans equipment throughout unit, and cleans unit restrooms.
• Performs pushing, pulling, carrying heavy equipment, awkward postures (lifting/holding patient extremities), lifting with or without assistance (patients, equipment), overexertion (protecting a combative patient emerging from anesthesia), able to lift/carry 50 pounds or more. Utilizes and complies with safe patient handling and moving procedures and uses proper body mechanics and transfer techniques.
• Ensures equipment needed for surgical procedures is readily available
• Transports specimens to lab as required

DUTIES

The Perioperative Nursing Assistant (NA) functions as a member of the Perioperative Department and assists the licensed nursing staff, surgeons, and residents in the provision of patient care. Provides assistance to nursing staff in the care of patients in the perioperative unit as well as maintaining a safe, clean, clutter-free, and therapeutic environment. The NA maintains the department in a safe, clean, clutter free environment by utilizing, maintaining knowledge and skills in cleaning techniques, equipment, and products that comply with the Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) guidelines.

PERIOPERATIVE DUTIES

Performs cleaning in Operating Room (OR) rooms between patients, terminal cleaning of OR rooms, and scheduled cleaning of all areas within the Perioperative Unit. Maintains patient safety which includes but not limited to the following:

(1) Knowledge of and use of proper infection control standards. (2) Knowledge of and provision of safe hazardous waste removal. (3) Knowledge of and provision of properly cleaning blood and body fluid spills and chemotherapeutic agent spills. (4) Knowledge of and use of universal precautions. Utilizes PPE appropriately.

• Provides support duties under direct supervision of the licensed nursing staff that includes assisting with the transfer of patients to nursing units.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and provision of properly cleaning blood and body fluid spills and chemotherapeutic agent spills.
• Utilizes Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriately, performs cleaning in OR rooms between patients, terminal cleaning of OR rooms, and scheduled cleaning of all areas within the Perioperative Unit.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and use of universal precautions and utilizes PPE appropriately.
• Stocks supply items, removes soiled and contaminated linens, changes needle boxes, sweeps and mops floors, keeps dressing rooms clean, orderly, and sanitary conditions, cleans stretchers, dusts and cleans equipment throughout unit, and cleans unit restrooms.
• Performs pushing, pulling, carrying heavy equipment, awkward postures (lifting/holding patient extremities), lifting with or without assistance (patients, equipment), overexertion (protecting a combative patient emerging from anesthesia), able to lift/carry 50 pounds or more. Utilizes and complies with safe patient handling and moving procedures and uses proper body mechanics and transfer techniques.
• Ensures equipment needed for surgical procedures is readily available
• Transports specimens to lab as required.

Performs other related duties as listed in functional statement.
Work Schedule: Full time -10:30 am - 7:00pm, Monday - Friday (Alternate tour of duty may be required based on needs of OR unit)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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 (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• 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 09/09/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12791717.

• 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