Summary

The Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System (GLA) - West Los Angeles - is seeking a Nursing Assistant for the Emergency Department (ED) on the day shift. The NA provides direct patient care - assists with daily living activities - monitors high-risk Veterans - and responds to emergency situations under the direction of licensed nursing staff. The position supports patient safety - recovery - care coordination - and efficient ED operations in a fast-paced environment.

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:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• Experience: Six months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA
• Education or Training
• The candidate must have 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 appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d) Grade Determinations: GS-3 (Entry Level)
• There is no additional experience or education requirements beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 Experience/Education: 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 Education: Successful 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 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
• GS-5 Experience/Education: This is the full performance level for Nursing Assistants
• Nursing Assistants at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute - sub acute or chronic states of illness
• The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements
• Nursing Assistants at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role
• 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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) below
• OR Education: 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
• AND 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 Nursing Assistants 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
• Grandfathering Provisions
• All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA as of March 12 - 2015 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Preferred Experience: At least one (1) year of direct patient care experience in a hospital or nursing home setting
• Experience monitoring vital signs - performing EKGs - upper airway suctioning - and routine diagnostic tests
• Experience assisting physicians and nurses with the care and treatment of medical - surgical - psychiatric - or outpatient patients
• Experience setting up and assisting with complex medical equipment - including respirators - surgical wound suction equipment - and traction devices
• Experience assisting with diagnostic examinations and procedures - including lumbar punctures - minor surgical procedures - pap smears - bone marrow procedures - and chest tube insertions
• Experience recognizing and reporting changes in patient conditions - including excessive vomiting - bleeding - drainage - skin integrity - and airway concerns
• Experience recognizing emergency situations and providing appropriate interventions while awaiting assistance
• Experience documenting patient care information - observations - and changes in patient conditions in medical records or electronic health records (EHR)
• Experience identifying and reporting subtle changes in patient behavior or clinical conditions
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and experience performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G46 - Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard
• Physical Requirements: Work requires walking - standing - stooping - lifting - bending - pushing - turning - and at times carrying heavy loads
• Must be able to utilize good body mechanics and have stamina to withstand stress.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: The Nursing Assistant (NA) provides care to Veterans with acute - chronic - and behavioral health needs in a fast-paced - high-acuity Emergency Department
• The NA performs advanced nursing assistant duties - monitors high-risk Veterans - and recognizes and responds to emergencies - including the need for basic life support - bleeding control - and behavioral crises
• Duties include managing complex tasks - providing continuous patient observation - assisting with patient care and safety - and supporting interdisciplinary communication and efficient ED operations
• Direct Patient Care (Complex Level) Provides advanced ADL support (complex hygiene - feeding - mobility requiring specialized equipment)
• Independently performs and documents vital signs - neurological checks - bladder scans - oxygen monitoring - intake/output - and pain assessments
• Performs specimen collection and simple dressing changes with minimal supervision
• Supports trauma and rapid-response workflows by preparing rooms - equipment - and patient positioning
• Recognizes and immediately reports subtle shifts in condition requiring urgent intervention
• Emergency Department Safety - Observation & Behavioral Support Conducts 1:1 observation - continuous monitoring - and behavioral-risk supervision to maintain safety during high-acuity and psychiatric presentations
• Supports de-escalation and uses therapeutic communication in line with PMDB and ED policies
• Performs rapid environmental safety checks and identifies ligature or elopement risks
• Clinical & Technical Support Sets up - operates - and maintains specialized ED equipment (oxygen delivery devices - suction systems - telemetry leads)
• Assists during complex admissions - transfers - and discharges involving multidisciplinary coordination
• Supports emergency procedures such as chest-pain protocols - sepsis alerts - stroke alerts - and trauma evaluations within competency Virtual Monitoring & Technology-Enhanced Safety (if assigned) Safely operates virtual monitoring platforms and observes multiple patients simultaneously
• Provides verbal redirection - initiates emergency notifications - and escalates changes requiring RN involvement
• Performs pre-shift checks of monitoring systems and reports technical malfunctions promptly
• Documents safety events - triggers - interventions - and escalations using standardized templates
• Interdisciplinary Communication & Collaboration Actively participates in ED huddles - treatment planning - and coordination meetings
• Communicates changes in patient condition clearly to RNs/LVNs and informs the team of recurring safety - behavior - or clinical patterns
• Educates and mentors GS-3 and GS-4 NAs on ED protocols - equipment - and workflow
• Environment of Care & Infection Control Maintains clean - safe - and fully stocked ED treatment spaces
• Applies isolation protocols (airborne - droplet - contact) consistently
• Identifies and reports hazards - equipment failures - and infection-control risks
• Documentation Documents assessments - interventions - safety events - observations - and responses in the EHR promptly and accurately
• Uses ED-specific templates when available (e.g. - virtual monitoring - observation flowsheets)
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Day Shift - 7:00am-7:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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 #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized