What are the responsibilities and job description for the Community Living Center (CLC) Nursing Assistant position at San Francisco VA Medical Center?
**This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT for Nursing Assistant vacancies in the Community Living Center (CLC) at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. The announcement will remain open until July 10, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 26, 2026 with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.
Basic Requirements:
Grade Determinations:
GS-3 (Entry Level)
(a) Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements
(b) Assignments: Individuals assigned as GS-3 are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.
GS-4 (Entry Level)
(a) Experience: One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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
(b) 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
(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
GS-5
(Full Performance Level)
(a) 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 in subparagraph (c) below
OR
(b) 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
(c) Demonstrated KSAs:
Preferred Experience:
Grade 3: $48,489-$63,042 annually
Grade 4: $54,430-$70,763 annually
Grade 5: $60,898-$79,168 annually
References: VA Handbook 5005/81, PART II APPENDIX G46.
The full performance level of this vacancy is 5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 3 to 5.
Physical Requirements: The population of male and female patients served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. San Francisco VA Health Care System s a health care facility, providing acute medical, surgical, behavioral health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, geriatric, and primary care services predominately to veterans, but in special cases, includes active duty military and civilian populations. This position requires visual acuity (Correctable to 20/40), hearing clear distinctive speech (correctable to 20db), and manual dexterity to perform prescribed procedures/computer usage. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or during patient operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, and is able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Ability to work varying hours of duty and be floated to other patient care areas as necessary.
The duties of the Nursing Assistant includes, but are not limited to:
Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm, 3:30pm-Midnight, 11:30pm-8:00am; Schedule based on organizational needs.
Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
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 #: 10048F, 10049F, 10050F
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:
- 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: One year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.
- English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Grade Determinations:
GS-3 (Entry Level)
(a) Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements
(b) Assignments: Individuals assigned as GS-3 are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.
GS-4 (Entry Level)
(a) Experience: One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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
(b) 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
(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
- Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
- 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.
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.
GS-5
(Full Performance Level)
(a) 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 in subparagraph (c) below
OR
(b) 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
(c) Demonstrated KSAs:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Preferred Experience:
- Experience in long-term care, skilled nursing facility, rehabilitation, hospice, and/or medical-surgical.
- Experience in healthcare related field with direct patient care.
Grade 3: $48,489-$63,042 annually
Grade 4: $54,430-$70,763 annually
Grade 5: $60,898-$79,168 annually
References: VA Handbook 5005/81, PART II APPENDIX G46.
The full performance level of this vacancy is 5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 3 to 5.
Physical Requirements: The population of male and female patients served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. San Francisco VA Health Care System s a health care facility, providing acute medical, surgical, behavioral health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, geriatric, and primary care services predominately to veterans, but in special cases, includes active duty military and civilian populations. This position requires visual acuity (Correctable to 20/40), hearing clear distinctive speech (correctable to 20db), and manual dexterity to perform prescribed procedures/computer usage. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or during patient operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, and is able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Ability to work varying hours of duty and be floated to other patient care areas as necessary.
Responsibilities:
The Nursing Assistant (NA) will be responsible for delivering safe resident care at the San Francisco VA Health Care System in the Community Living Center. The NA is a member of the nursing care team and will assist licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving long stay care, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, dementia care, and/or hospice.The duties of the Nursing Assistant includes, but are not limited to:
- Fosters an environment of respect for individual resident and family/significant other rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Serves as the Veteran's/family/significant other's advocate and effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with residents, family members, and/or internal/external customers and demonstrates resident-centered care.
- Explains procedures to residents.
- Administers complete personal care to Veterans 18 years through the geriatric years who exhibit acute symptoms and whose activity may be severely restricted. These Veterans have unique age related and gender specific structural and functional changes that effect their response to assistance and care. This care will include, but is not limited to, restorative care, hygiene, assistance with ADL's, elimination and nutrition.
- Demonstrates dependability and reliability by scheduling and using leave appropriately for positive impact on patient/resident care.
- Recognizes and reports subtle or obvious changes in patient's/resident's behavior, communication, or physical condition. Documents observations, changes in patient's/resident's condition, and response to nursing interventions as applicable.
- Assists in the development of the nursing care plan and quality assurance performance improvement (QAPI) activities by defining problems, needs, and suggesting actions based on information gained through interaction with the patient/resident and/or group meetings.
- Provides restorative nursing care with oversight by RN. Works with assigned patients/residents using a variety approaches for the purpose of promoting independence, maintaining practicable level of functioning, self reliance, and encouraging patients/residents to accept responsibility for their own behavior. Shares patient/resident information and reactions with the interdisciplinary team.
- Assists in maintaining a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment. Recognizes and reports problems and makes suggestions for corrective actions.
- Anticipates potential for critical situations attempts to prevent such situations. Recognizes and takes appropriate action in emergencies.
- Delivers safe, basic physical and emotional care to patients/residents with simple to complex needs while developing technical skills.
- Demonstrates proper hand hygiene and utilizes appropriate isolation precautions as needed.
- Assists with escorting patient's/resident's to appointments using stretcher, wheelchair or other mobility device as needed.
Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm, 3:30pm-Midnight, 11:30pm-8:00am; Schedule based on organizational needs.
Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
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 #: 10048F, 10049F, 10050F
Salary : $48,489 - $63,042