Massachusetts Jobs

Summary This Health Aid position is in the Nursing Service at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center, in Bedford, MA. These are full-time Temporary positions with an initial appointment/training expecting to last 6-8 weeks but may be extended to 6 months. After successful completion of the program requirements, the individual may be converted to a permanent appointment, without further competition into a Nursing Assistant position. Temporary positions are not permanent status in the Federal service Responsibilities Become part of our Health Care team with on-the-job skills training. Enter as a Health Aid and graduate as a Nursing Assistant! Looking for a career change, a way into the nursing field or into the VA? VA Bedford is launching an innovative, on-the-job training program, for those looking to become Nursing Assistants! We offer a 8 week intensive program for individuals interested in becoming a Nursing Assistant at the VA. Those selected for the program will enter as a Health Aid. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will be promoted to Nursing Assistants! These Health Aid positions are within Nursing service at the Bedford VA Medical Center at the Bedford, MA location. These are full-time Temporary positions (Less than 6-Months) with an initial appointment/training expecting to last at least 6-8 weeks but may be extended up to 6-Months. After successful completion of the program requirements, the individual may, at agency discretion, be converted to a permanent appointment, without further competition. Temporary positions do not convey permanent status in the Federal service. The primary purpose of this position is to provide Health Care aid at the Health Care System VISN and facility levels. The position is responsible for delivering a broad array of health care services throughout the Medical Center, and it's various locations that provide in patient care, such as but not limited to the living centers. The Health Aid is responsible for performing selected patient/resident related transports to different areas such as, x-rays, CT Scan, MRI, Prosthetics, Sonography and other related areas. The incumbent is expected to develop and demonstrate increasing skills in performing a variety of tasks. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Provides holistic in-patient care to Veterans in a manner conducive to the comfort and safety of those in the facility hospital units, living centers and/or household under the guidance and supervision of a Registered Nurse, License Practical/Licensed Vocational Nurse, or Physician Protect, sustain, and nurture the resident by providing assistance as needed with activities of daily living under close supervision and with direction/guidance from a preceptor such as personal hygiene, physical comfort, activity/exercise/rest, nutrition, prevention of skin breakdown and rehabilitative aspects of care; Provides care for a group of patients/residents of varying ages; Assists as needed with eating, drinking, positioning/turning, ambulating, transferring, and escorting inpatients/residents; Implements facility guidelines for the prevention of pressure ulcers; Maintains general cleanliness of the inpatient/resident's environment including emptying and cleaning urinals, bed pans, suction bottles, and disposing of dirty linen and disposable briefs; Performs a range of clinical support duties, which include taking, recording vital signs and reporting deviations; Collects urine, stool, sputum and other specimens for Laboratory analysis; Measures and documents fluid intake and output as needed; Observe and report changes in resident's physical condition, pain levels, and/or behavioral changes; Performs blood glucose monitoring and reports results appropriately; Monitors flow of oxygen, replaces empty tanks, and fills personal use portable oxygen; Obtains equipment and supplies and assists the RN and/or medical provider(s) when he/she performs minor medical/surgical procedures when appropriate and within skills and knowledge; Records care of inpatient/resident on appropriate documents; documents condition of inpatient/resident according to facility policy; Other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Various schedules available, to be discussed during the interview. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Aid/PD99404S and PD99917-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Notifications: This position is in the Competitive Service. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This is a temporary, not to exceed 6-Months position which may be extended or converted to a permanent position without further competitive procedures. This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/01/2024. You must qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-2: Experience: Three months of general experience doing any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation; (To be creditable, this must be supported by your application materials); OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have possession of a High school graduation or the equivalent. (NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation) GS-3: Experience: At least six (6) months of general experience. General experience is (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area (i.e. nutrition, food service, etc.) of the occupation. OR Education: Successful completion of one (1) full year of education above high school level that included study in medical, health, or related fields. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR Combination: Equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education and general experience, as listed above. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications Flexibility Learning 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. Working with residents requires regular and recurring bending, lifting (not to exceed 35 pounds), reaching, carrying, stooping, stretching and similar activities. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.