Nursing Assistant - Medical Surgical Unit

Summary

Join the Fargo VA Health Care System as a Nursing Assistant on the Medical‑Surgical Unit. This role provides essential bedside care – supporting acutely and chronically ill Veterans through direct patient care, monitoring, mobility assistance, specimen collection, and safe operation of equipment in a fast‑paced acute care environment.

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.

• 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. 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 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…