Summary

VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary - secondary - tertiary - and quaternary care in outpatient - inpatient - residential - and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi-site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland - Oregon - outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver - Washington - and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/23/2025.

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
• Education or Training
• Six 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. English Language Proficiency- Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Grade Determinations: GS-3 Nursing Assistant: Experience and Education- None beyond basic requirements
• GS-4 Nursing Assistant: 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 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1
• Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents
• 2
• Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner
• 3
• 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
• 4
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents - their families and other health professionals
• GS-5 Nursing Assistant: 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 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 KSAs 1
• 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
• 2
• 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
• 3
• 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.

Duties

• The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: The Phlebotomy/Nursing Assistant (NA) will practice in the Primary Care Clinics and may be assigned to the clinics located in Portland - Vancouver - Astoria - Bend - Salem - Fairview - The Dalles - West Linn - Community Resource Referral Center (CRRC) - or Hillsboro
• Incumbent may assist members of the PACT Teamlet (Primary Care Provider - Nurse Care Manager - Licensed Practical Nurse - Health Technician - and Clerical Associate) or support the work of the expanded team (Pharmacist - Social Worker - Home Telehealth RN - Psychologist - and Dietician.) The main responsibility of Incumbent will be to perform specimen collection of (urine - sputum - blood - or stool) ensuring to utilize proper labeling - packaging - and transport instructions from the Primary Care Community Based Clinics or assigned areas to the main facility laboratory
• Incumbent must utilize proper facility required patient identified methods and ensure patient confidentiality is maintained
• Incumbent access and complete specimens' orders from the hospital computerized system - utilize centrifugation (id required) - and prepare specimen prior to laboratory testing
• Incumbent will exercise effective communication skills prior to - during - and after specimen collection - ensuring to review pertinent information with the patient
• The incumbent will maintain specimen integrity by using aseptic techniques - following department procedures - and observing and adhering to personal protective equipment policies and guidelines
• The Phlebotomy NA will adhere to applicable infection control guidelines of hand hygiene before and after venipuncture of all patients
• Incumbent will demonstrate knowledge and skill in utilizing noninvasive vein mapping devices as well as demonstrates competency in venipuncture and specimen collection
• Incumbent resolve order discrepancies by contacting the order originator for further clarification - notifying supervisor of unresolved orders
• Incumbent must maintain a safe and secure working environment by adhering to local medical center standards - policies - and procedures as well as other federal or state regulating bodies to include but not limited to Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) - Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) - and the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
• As needed - the incumbent will provides care and services to multiple populations served within the clinic - area of assignment as determined by the patienUclinic need for nursing care and services
• Incumbent must demonstrate the ability to observe - identify - and respond to Veterans needs for nursing - emergencies - medication - point­of-care- testing - and equipment assistant care to recognize deviations from normal - assist with technical procedures but not limited to: taking and recording BP - temperature - pulse - respiration - pulse ox - height - weight - specimen collection such as urine - sputum - or stool - finger glucose - and administering oxygen
• Incumbent will assist with completing health promotion clinical reminders and documenting accordingly
• Incumbent will assist with health literacy and education needs of the veterans as directed by the RN or Health Care Provider and manage clinic workflow by ensuring veterans are placed in examination rooms in a timely manner - and providing direction to Veterans as they move through the clinic environment
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 07:00am-3:30pm (varying tours) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized