Nursing Assistant (Psychiatry Unit)

Nursing Assistant Duties

The duties and responsibilities of the Nursing Assistant include but are not limited to the following:

• Demonstrates the knowledge and skill necessary to provide care based on physical, psychological, educational, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the age of the patient served in their assigned area.
• Provides patient monitoring, observation, and documentation (such as vital signs, I's & O's, meals, obtaining patient weight, etc.)
• Provides input to colleagues, Team Leader/Charge Nurse for making assignments for the incoming tour.
• Listens attentively to reports and SBAR notes pertinent items and asks for clarification when unsure of content.
• Formulates work schedule based on prioritization of patient care needs
• Responds to all safety alarms, rapid responses, and codes on the unit/area assigned.
• Will facilitate as a sitter for patients endorsing SI, HI, wheelchair use, or medical monitoring.
• Assist patients with ADLs and meals as required, maintaining as much independence as possible.
• Preserves patient safety confidentiality and patient/family/significant other's rights, assists the multidisciplinary team with resolving ethical issues, and immediately reports observations and knowledge of abuse or neglect of patients and loss or damage of government property.
• Performs procedures and treatments according to the orientation procedures for assigned patients or assists with the delivery of procedures/treatments for a team of patients, in an organized and timely manner per established policy and practice, seeking guidance when necessary.
• Assist patients in keeping physically and socially active and maintaining peer group interactions.
• Assists with the ambulation of patients to promote rehabilitative and restorative nursing care.
• Assist patients in coping with loss (e.g., hearing, vision, body parts, or death of significant others).
• Provides respectful care that maintains individuality, dignity, and self-esteem for residents in an environment that focuses on their care needs and quality of life.
• Practices universal precautions, infection control techniques, and safe medical waste disposal
• Use of equipment safely and using proper body mechanics.
• Recognizes medical/behavioral changes and initiates appropriate intervention requests as necessary
• The Nursing Assistant is alert to patients' possible physical acting out behavior and protects themself and others from physical harm.
• Assist with admissions, discharges, transfers, and death procedures.
• Assist with transporting patients to procedures, between wards, and at discharge.
• Duties require extensive standing and walking, bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pulling, and similar activities using safe patient handling techniques.
• Performs Environmental safety rounds in the milieu to ensure unit/patient rooms are safe. (Halls are clear, no broken equipment, beds in the low locked position, no tripping hazards, and no restricted contraband kept in patient rooms).

Preferred Experience: 1+ years of inpatient acute psychiatric experience

Work Schedule: Full-Time/ 12hr shifts. 1830-0700 and alternating weekends. Tour subject to change depending on the needs of facility.

Telework: Not available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

US Department of Veterans Affairs