Nursing Assistant

Summary

The Acute Mental Health Inpatient Nursing Assistant (NA) for Units Birch, Cypress, and Douglas functions as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. Performs activities of daily living and provides a range of care that contributes to the Veteran's treatment plan, recovery, and wellness under the direction of a licensed health care provider.

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Duties

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Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provides care for patients with a variety of physical and/or behavior problems.
• Recognizes and addresses bio-psychosocial and age-specific concerns of patients.
• Recognizes signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness and responds appropriately.
• Assists in carrying out communication techniques that will be most therapeutic for any patient or group of patients.
• Performs basic nursing treatments such as personal care, assistance with ADLs, vital signs, blood glucose monitoring, assigned treatments and specimen collection within established hospital policy and procedure.
• Documents findings in the patient's CPRS record. Recognizes abnormalities and reports to the registered nurse.
• Assists with the completion of technical procedures such as electrocardiograms, respiratory treatments, and blood glucose finger stick monitoring.
• Functions proactively to prevent potential medical and psychiatric emergencies.
• Responds to actual and/or potential medical and psychiatric emergencies.
• Manages aggressive behavior.
• Employs alternative measures to physical restraints.
• Provides Close Observation to patient while in restraint.
• Communicate with the patient during restraint period.
• Knowledgeable in documenting patient behavior and intervention provided in restraint flow sheet.
• Assists during release from restraint. Participates in rehash and debriefing following restraint episode.
• Acts when patients demonstrate high-risk behaviors or suicidal or self-destructive impulses.
• Notify the registered nurse immediately of any perceived risk.
• Maintains the standard procedure when supervising patients off the ward, escorting them directly to appointments and/or to appropriate activities. remains with the patient always.
• Immediately reports abnormal situations to the registered nurse and seeks VA police assistance immediately as needed.
• Ensuring no hazardous items is brought by patients to the unit at the time of admission and by visitors during visitations.
• Observes and reports any change in patient behavior, mental or physical condition.
• Electronically documents pertinent findings in the patient record (CPRS).
• Provides basic instruction and VA approved educational materials to patients and families regarding coping with a disease. This patient teaching can be conducted individually or in a group setting.
• Reports hazardous situations and alerts personnel.
• Take immediate corrective action to resolve unsafe conditions
• Completes annual mandatory education review, competency checklists and other required educational activities for the Health Care System and Mental Health Nursing.
• Proficient in the use of the electronic medical record and VAPA web such as accessing of information and entering data when appropriate.
• Demonstrates knowledge of VA policies, procedures, and assists with basic life safety and unit orientation of new staff members.
• Maintain up-to-date PMDB training to effectively prevent and manage disruptive behaviors, taking a proactive role in monitoring their compliance
• Verbalize MHEOCC findings that present ligature risk on the unit and able to discuss mitigation strategies.
• Ensuring performing walkthrough during the change of the shift and ensuring proper endorsement was given to incoming NA by off going NA.
• Perform patient and environmental rounds per hospital policy and procedure to ensure patient safety.
• Gives attention to cognitive status and the potential for elopement, withdrawal or intrusion, or potential for danger to self or others. Documents appropriately patient and environmental rounds in timely manner.
• When assigned to close observation, patients always maintain within eye contact and ensure patients do not have items that can be used for self-harm.
• Provides verbal hand-offs to the relief person regarding the status of the patient.
• Documents observed patient behaviors every 15 minutes on flow sheet.
• When providing CO observation to patients on SP (Suicidal patients), always maintain arm length distance even when patient is in the bathroom. For Direct Line of sight 1 staff can monitor 2 or more patients at time per Mental Health level of observation SOP 118-25-2.
• The Inpatient Mental Health NA has successfully completed comprehensive training in PMDB Therapeutic Containment, including hands-on training.
• The employee is fully trained to immediately implement patient containment safety procedures and can effectively apply all learning from all levels of PMDB training, including de-escalation techniques, into practice.
• The Inpatient Mental Health Nurse performs all duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Work Schedule : PM, Monday - Friday, 3:30pm - 12:00am, Rotating Weekends and Holidays

Telework : Not authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : PD09802F, PD09803F, and PD09804F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized

Requirements

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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.
• 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.
• 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 ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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 :

• 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 [NA] 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. [NAs] must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Grade Determinations :

GS-3 (Entry Level)

• Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4

• Experience: One year of specialized experience 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

• 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 demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.3. 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.4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.

GS-5 (Full Performance Level)

• 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

• 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 Demonstrated KSAs: 1. 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.2. 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.3. 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:

• Completion of education or training as a nursing assistant.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) provider card issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network (MTN)
• Restorative Nursing Assistant Certification

References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46 Nurse Assistant Qualification Standard GS-621, dated March 12, 2015,

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

Physical Requirements: 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 don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

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.

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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.

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).

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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.