The Nursing Assistant is a member of the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit providing assistance to the providers, nursing leadership team, registered nurses, and other team members. The Nursing Assistant demonstrates the knowledge and ability to provide care to Veteran patients within the Mental Health and Outpatient Specialty Service Line. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. Experience or Education or Training. 1) Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA. OR 2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation. OR 3) Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one year as a NA 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 REQUIREMENTS. Creditable Experience. 1) Knowledge of Current Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice. 2) Quality of Experience. To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. 3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-3 NA (Entry Level). Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 NA. Experience. One year of specialized experience as a NA 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 NA (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 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. REFERENCE: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), straight pulling (6 hours), pushing (2 hours), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (6 hours), standing (2 hours), repeated bending (6 hours), both legs required, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), visual acuity 20/30 correct, and mental and emotional stability. Environmental factors include working with hands in water and working closely with others. ["Duties include, but are not limited to: Function as a member of the Multidisciplinary Team and assist the Registered Nurse in the care of Veterans with Acute and Chronic Mental Health needs, including observing, recording, and reporting changes in their behavior, and providing reassurance and encouragement. Work with multidisciplinary staff to achieve treatment goals for Veterans by providing input and feedback concerning the effectiveness of interventions. Adhere to responsibility of timely maintenance of all education required, including: TMS, BLS, HIPAA and Privacy training. As a psychiatric Nursing Assistant, VA training in prevention and management of disruptive behavior or, if unable to complete training, an alternative safety plan is required. Provide a full range of nursing care to Veterans with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems including personal nursing care, diagnostic support duties and treatment procedures; appropriately respond to Veteran needs and report changes in Veteran condition to the RN. Perform support duties using initiative and without specific direction such as taking vital signs, recording and reporting deviations to the supervisor; collect specimens and label for laboratory. Participate in admissions, transfers, escorting Veterans to appointments and therapies, discharges and contributing to the formulation of Treatment goals. Assist in providing information to Veterans and participate in recovery-oriented programming including topics such as social skills training, music group, exercise/waling group, therapeutic recreation group, and ADL skills group. Record subjective and objective and significant information about the Veteran's behavior in relation to the treatment plan and Veteran's response to care given on the Veteran's clinical record. Recognize and respond appropriately to medical and psychiatric emergency situations. Participate in the Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior; use principles to prevent or respond to psychiatric emergencies; participate in Code Green Team responses and assist with proper documentation of the intervention. Participate in the use of Restraint and Seclusion (R/S), including proper use of and application of R/S; 1:1 observation and documentation on the behavioral R/S flow sheet; release from R/S and QM R/S monitor/review. Provide intensive observation including 1:1 observation and Continuous Nursing Observation and comply with procedure to ensure Veteran safety. Conduct and document safety rounds/environmental rounds per procedure as assigned with an understanding of the importance of monitoring the environment on a continuous basis and reporting all actual or potential hazards per policy. Verify and understand the proper procedures for the cleaning of reusable medical equipment utilized in the assigned area. Maintain cleanliness of the work area and ensure that the Veteran care areas are stocked with needed supplies. Maintain positive relationships with Veterans, visitors, and personnel. Answer telephones and call lights. Receive and direct Veterans and/or their families by answering routine questions. Participate in in-Service programs and assist in the orientation of new employees as needed. Alert to emergency situations and respond appropriately. Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: (3) 12 hour night shifts a week (7:30pm-8:00am) and (1) 8 hour shift every other week (11:30pm-8:00am) and alternative weekends Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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) 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]

Return to Search Results