Acute Care Nursing Assistant

Quick Facts

• Role: Nursing Assistant (Acute Care, Medical/Surgical)

• Work schedule: Intermittent

• Setting: Acute care

Description

The Nursing Assistant supports assessing, implementing, and evaluating nursing care in an acute care Medical/Surgical unit under close supervision and with appropriate training. Responsibilities include personal care, catheter and enteral feeding support, vital-sign monitoring and reporting, diagnostic specimen collection, and emergency life-saving actions when indicated. Some duties may include supporting oxygen therapy and, after certification, performing 12-lead EKGs.

Responsibilities

• Assist with patient assessment activities and nursing care plan tasks under supervision

• Provide personal nursing care: feeding, bathing, oral hygiene, nail care, hair care, and related hygiene

• Identify patient needs and respond to patient call lights promptly

• Support catheter care (external and indwelling) and provide post-mortem care

• Use proper body mechanics to move, lift, and transfer patients

• Maintain a clean environment for patients and keep assigned utility/supply areas organized

• Assist with ADL devices; orient new patients; inspect personal belongings as directed

• Escort patients to/from hospital or Community Living Centers as assigned

• Perform enteral tube feedings (gastrostomy and naso-gastric) as required

• Provide individualized support to critically ill and emotionally unstable patients while respecting dignity, autonomy, and preferred routines

• Help patients increase independence by giving, directing, instructing, and supervising care activities

• Participate in care plan development during team conferences

• Provide emotional support to dying patients and/or family members

• Support diagnostic duties: record/report vital sign deviations; collect, label, and send specimens to the Laboratory

• Initiate CPR and/or Heimlich maneuver when indicated

• Observe IV solutions for infiltration or low solution level and discontinue IVs at the professional nurse’s direction

• Assemble oxygen equipment and support continuity of oxygen therapy as directed

• Apply/remove sterile dressings using aseptic technique as directed

• Maintain patient privacy and professional communication with patients, visitors, and staff

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Proficiency in written and spoken English

• Background/security investigation required

• Pass pre-employment physical evaluation

• Complete online onboarding and pre-employment requirements (including I-9 acceptable identification)

• Seasonal influenza vaccination program participation required

• Selective Service registration required for males born after 12/31/1959

• Urinalysis drug screening if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position

• Meet physical requirements (visual acuity, hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity; ability to perform prolonged standing/walking and patient/object transfers; possible exposure to infected/contaminated materials)

• Complete annual Employee Health requirements (e.g., TB screening/testing)

• Satisfy NA qualification requirements for GS-3 through GS-5 based on specified experience/education/training and KSAs

• Complete a 1- or 2-year trial period; continued employment requires written certification that service advances the public interest

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be determined based on unique qualifications or special needs

• Comprehensive federal benefits package (eligibility depends on position type and whether the role is intermittent, full-time, or part-time)