Job Description
Summary
The Mental Health unit at the Lyons VA Medical Center is looking for an experience Nursing Assistant (NA). The Mental Health Nursing Assistant (NA) is responsible for providing safe - effective care to patients/residents.
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
- Six months of general experience
- Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of an NA
- OR - One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
- OR
- 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
- Grade Determinations: GS-3 Nursing Assistant: Nothing beyond the indicated basic requirements above GS-4 Nursing assistant: Experience: One year of specialized experience as a CNA 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 Demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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 Nursing Assistant: 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 Demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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: 2+ years of Mental health experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
- May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
- The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05
- The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-05
- Physical Requirements: See Handbook 5019.
Duties
- VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Job Duties to include but are not limited to: Identify patients using 2 identifiers to provide care - treatment services
- Obtain vital signs and appropriately document
- Perform 30 min checks to ensure safety
- Demonstrate appropriate intervention skills in response to behavioral changes/crisis
- Report changes in behavior to RNs for early intervention
- Encourage patients to participate in therapeutic groups
- Conduct random and scheduled Health and safety checks and environment of care rounds
- Verbalize the difference between contraband(drugs and paraphernalia) and hazardous materials (weapons - lighters - etc.)
- Complete the review of unit policies with Veterans upon admission and during Community meetings
- Assist with escorting Veterans to appointments
- Assist in urine toxicology collection as directed by the RN
- Assist in nursing admission process by checking patient belongings and provide Veteran centered orientation to the unit
- Encourage Veterans to keep the unit and their rooms neat and clean to foster a therapeutic milieu
- Work Schedule: 7 AM - 7:30 PM with rotations - subject to change based on service needs
- Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized - may be paid to a highly qualified candidate
- Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be 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)
- Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior nursing assistant 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) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
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Job Tags
Permanent employment, Full time, Remote work, Relocation package