Summary
Become a Student Nurse Technician at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System with our VA Student Trainee Experience Program (VA-STEP)! VA-STEP serves as a first step to gain employment within the VA after graduation and licensure. The nursing student is employed as a trainee earning a salary while they learn to develop understanding, confidence, and competencies in the care of our nations Veterans at your local VA Salt Lake City facility.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Students
Current students enrolled in an accredited high school, college or graduate institution.
Clarification from the agency
Announcement is open to current U.S. Citizens. In addition, you must be a current Nursing Student who has completed or are within one semester of completing the junior year of your Bachelor's Degree Program from a nationally accredited school for Nursing Sciences with a CCNE or ACEN Accreditation by May 2025.
Duties
The Nursing VA STEP focuses on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self direction. The practice of each Nursing VA STEP is based on skill, experience, and research and has a direct and indirect impact on client outcomes for the assigned area. Works on the preceptor's assignment of care for the day; does not carry an independent patient care load.
Clinical duties to include:
- Provides direct patient and family teaching.
- Resolves patient care problems and evaluates care given to assigned patients.
- Reassesses nursing actions for effectiveness in achieving desired outcomes and communicates changes in patient's progress.
- Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and shares information regarding the patient and their care needs.
- Manages workload as assigned, organizes, and completes assignments in an efficient and appropriate manner.
- Documents care provided, observations, and patient responses to interventions.
- Incorporates patient preferences into shared care delivery decisions.
- Establishes a therapeutic relationship, allowing the patient to attain, maintain, or regain optimal function through assessment and treatment.
- Engages patients, families, and other caregivers to incorporate knowledge, values, and beliefs into care planning without judgement or discrimination.
- Functions in a safe manner including but not limited to infection control and operating of equipment.
- Utilizes nursing research and literature in daily practice.
- Provides care appropriate to the age-related needs of the adult and geriatric patients served in the assigned service area.
- Seeks out opportunities to learn new skills.
- Attends all mandatory in services as well as shares knowledge gained from school with staff.
- Knowledgeable of ethical issues related to professional nursing practice and follows established policies of the practice setting.
- Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills and professional behaviors that promote cooperation and teamwork with internal and external customers.
Work Schedule: Variable
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
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 () or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ().
- 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.
Additional information
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.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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.
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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Academic Faculty or Dean Recommendation Letter
- Employer/Manager/Other Recommendation Letter
- Resume
- Transcript
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
- Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service
- Disability Letter (VA)
- License
- Other (1)
- Academic Faculty or Dean Recommendation Letter
- Employer/Manager/Other Recommendation Letter
- Performance Appraisal
- Resume
- SF-15
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
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' document upload field.
Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit
Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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 03/17/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12895290.
- 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.
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.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.