Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Currently attending a College or University and be in a Baccalaureate Nursing Program approved by the appropriate State-Accrediting Agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant
• The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• The CGPA must be computed on post-secondary academic work taken within the past 3 years, or
• based on academic work accepted for credit towards the clinical laboratory science degree While a student may have a grade "C" in a specialty course, the cumulative GPA for their specialty courses may not be less than a 3.0
• Only data on official transcripts should be used for determining grade qualifications Be able to complete a minimum of 400 hours as a VA-Step Student in a VA Facility Not be under a service obligation to any Federal, State, or Private Institution, or be a recipient of any Federal scholarship that incurs a service obligation to another organization
• VASTEP applicants can be a Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) recipient with service connection to federal agency Currently in a Good Academic Standing (as defined by the school the student is attending) leading to graduation and NCLEX certification Not obligated to work somewhere outside the VA after graduation Undergo a Background/Suitability Investigation Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided
• The Student Nurse Technician may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings
• The Student Nurse Technician may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders
• The Student Nurse Technician must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.