Nursing Assistant (Spinal Cord Injury Center)

Summary

This position is for a Nursing Assistant (GS-3/4/5) on the nursing care team at the Spinal Cord Injury Center, South Texas VA Healthcare System, assisting licensed staff with Veterans' daily living needs, hygiene, mobility, and rehabilitation. Duties expand with grade, from supervised basic care to independent complex care, tracheostomy suctioning, and mentoring newer assistants. Incumbents monitor vitals, document observations, and support treatment plans under RN/LPN direction.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Position Overview: Career-ladder Nursing Assistant position within Nursing Service at South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Spinal Cord Injury Center, providing care to Veterans with acute to chronic conditions across outpatient, inpatient, home, and Community Living Center (CLC) settings. NAs are members of the nursing care team, providing direct patient care under RN/LVN/LPN clinical direction and Nurse Manager supervision, accountable to the Associate Director of Patient Care Services. May be filled at GS-3, GS-4, or GS-5 with promotion potential to GS-5 as competencies are met. GS-3 (Entry): Works under close supervision; refers issues/questions to supervisors, higher-graded NAs, or other healthcare professionals. Learning basic duties: glucose monitoring, personal hygiene, physical comfort, activity/exercise/rest, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, and rehabilitative aspects of care. Begins using observation skills for data collection and reporting. Assists with patient/family orientation to unit routines and engages in group activities (off-station trips, reality orientation, current events) under close supervision. Trained to set up patient care equipment and organize supplies. GS-4 (Developmental): Works under close supervision with growing independence in performing complex nursing skills; refers issues to supervisors, higher-graded NAs, or licensed staff. Competent in personal hygiene, physical comfort, activity, nutrition, elimination, skin breakdown prevention, and rehabilitative care. Performs and documents prescribed treatments (diabetic urine/blood testing, simple dressing changes), uses diagnostic/treatment equipment (bladder scan, continuous passive motion device, glucose monitoring machine, specimen collection), monitors patients per observation levels (one-to-one suicide watch, continuous observation, 15-minute checks, hourly rounding), sets up equipment (hypothermia machines, oxygen delivery, suction), and begins orienting lower-level NAs. Reports patient status and observations to the RN according to established procedures. GS-5 (Full Performance): Functions with more complex, variable patient assignments under RN/LVN/LPN direction; serves as preceptor and mentor to newer NAs, coordinating orientation and assessing practical experience. Administers complete tracheostomy care including suctioning; performs enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care/simple dressings, and application of braces and prosthetic devices. Recognizes and reacts to emergent situations, initiating basic life support, controlling bleeding, and assisting with behavior crises while awaiting assistance. Observes and responds to subtle changes in condition (behavior, mood, skin coloring, appetite), actively participates in Treatment Planning Meetings, manages disruptive patient behavior, and contributes to infection control and a safe care environment. Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts, including Nights/Weekends/Holidays 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 #: 54722-F, 54723-F, 54724-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required, depending on the needs of the organization Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications and evaluation

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. 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. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Education

IMPORTANT: 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/. Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/17/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13004148. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Required documents

Note: 38 U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans preference to external applicants for appointments made from this announcement. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' or 'Clinical Resume / CV' document upload field. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Clinical Resume / CV Name Change Document, if applicable Professional Certification Proof of Marriage Status Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.