Nursing Assistant

Nursing Assistant

This is an open continuous announcement until April 25th 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available in different Nursing departments of Madison WI VA.

Accepting applications from 10/24/2025 to 04/25/2026. Salary ranges from $38,685 to $63,148 per year with pay scale and grade GS 3 - 5. The position is located in Madison, WI and does not offer remote work, travel, or relocation reimbursement. The job is not eligible for telework and is a non-sensitive position with no required security clearance.

The position offers multiple appointment types including full time, part time, and intermittent schedules. Benefits include competitive salary, 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year, parental leave, child care subsidy, traditional federal pension, and federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance. The position is not a virtual role.

Major Duties:

• Assists with/performs under the direct supervision of the recreation/occupational/physical therapist therapeutic and diversion activities for patients.
• Obtains blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and blood glucose (finger stick) and records them appropriately in the medical record. Is able to distinguish significant variances in vital signs and finger sticks and reports them to the responsible RN.
• Assist or provide patients with personal hygiene, i.e., bathing, shaving, teeth brushing, nail care, hair combing, etc.
• Provide patients with the appropriate level of assistance with activities of daily living, bathing, dressing, transferring, ambulating, feeding, and toileting.
• Weighs patients and records them appropriately in the medical record. Is knowledgeable about variances in weights and reports significant variances in weights to responsible RN.
• Answers call lights promptly and in person.
• Assists during emergency treatment situations obtaining equipment as necessary and running errands as needed.
• Assists in emergency situations including, but not limited to CPR as needed.
• Assists the nurse/MD/NP during procedures/treatments as needed following appropriate standards and guidelines.
• Completes all required Nursing Assistant initial and annual competency requirements.
• Assists the team in reinforcing educational needs with patients.
• Consistently follows the Plan of Care for each patient.
• Perform one to one observation as assigned.
• Maintains positive and constructive professional working relationships with patients, families, medical staff, volunteers, and co-workers.
• Transport patients as assigned off the unit for various diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
• Follow all infection control procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Communication Duties:

• Consistently reports to the team leader/licensed staff observations of the patient's physical condition and behavior.
• Participates with the nursing team to provide input in the formulation and implementation of the care plan.
• Records appropriately in the medical record.
• Consistently addresses the patient, family, and staff with respect and dignity.
• Will report any suspected abuse to the appropriate licensed nurse (charge nurse, supervisor, manager).
• May attend interdisciplinary conferences as needed for the purpose of reporting observations of resident (patient) behavior or care.

Other Assigned Responsibilities:

• Uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail.
• Uses various programs to access information in the Medical Center Computer System to include, but not limited to, the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) and the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
• Follows established Medical Center, Division and Extended Care Center Program policies and procedures, rules and regulations, related to fire, disaster, security measures, computer security, and universal fluid precautions.
• Completes all required education requirements in a timely manner.

Work Schedule:

Full time, part time, intermittent Sunday-Monday different shifts.

Pay:

Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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 eligible.

Virtual:

This is not a virtual position.

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. 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:

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. Basic Requirements: US Citizenship is required. English: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English. Education or Training: Must possess 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 (1) year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation. OR Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related [training]course of less than one year as a NA may also meet full the experience requirements for GS-3.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements listed above, you must meet the grade requirements at one of the following grade levels to qualify for this position.

GS-03: Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-04: Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised.