Nursing Assistant - Inpatient Behavioral Health

Veterans Health Administration

Columbia Township (MO)

On-site

USD 43,000 - 71,000

Full time

8 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Childcare subsidy

Federal health insurance

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration in Columbia, MO seeks a Nursing Assistant to support licensed staff in inpatient behavioral health care. You will monitor vitals, assist with complex patient care, and document observations as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Your role includes glucose monitoring, observing subtle changes in patients, and assisting with procedures under scope of practice while maintaining infection control and patient safety standards.

Qualifications

Nursing Assistant qualification aligned with VA federal standards.
Ability to monitor glucose readings and report deviations.
Demonstrated capacity to care for veterans in behavioral health settings.
Accurate documentation of observations and care provided.
Adherence to infection control and aseptic techniques.

Responsibilities

Assists licensed nursing staff in patient care activities.
Uses glucose monitoring equipment to obtain readings and reports deviations.
Observes changes in patient condition and responds per policy.
Documents care, observations, and responses in charting tools.
Performs nursing tasks such as wound care, catheterization, enema, and simple dressings as permitted.
Participates in treatment planning and team meetings.

Skills

Glucose monitoring

Vital signs

Tracheostomy care

Patient observation

Infection control

Tools

Glucose meter

Lift equipment

Hydro sound tubs

Job description

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This Nursing Assistant position is located in the Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit.

Key Responsibilities

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent will function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients.

Assigned duties include:- Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans refers deviation to appropriate health care staff.- Provides direct care for complex veterans.- Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition, i.e., behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc.

and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role.- Documents care given, observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms.- Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personal.- Administers complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.- Monitor and documents patient intake and output reports deviations timely and accurately.- Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran for such procedures but not limited to: enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care simple dressing, and application of braces and prosthetic devices.- Works on small group activities with veterans/residents according to the patients/resident treatment plan.- Recognizes the residents' autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect, limit setting and individualized treatment.- Actively participates in Treatment Planning Meetings.- Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care, such as lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and Veteran/Resident Wandering System.- Verbally provides patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran/residents' plan of care, participates in treatment team meetings for resident care planning.- Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats.- Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient/resident.- Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, observes safety regulations, contributes to infection control, and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties.- Serves as the unit safe patient handling liaison.- Serves as preceptor and mentor to other NA's.- Orients members of the health care team to the units as appropriate.- Functions as a member of the unit base counsel.- Manages distributed patient behavior and by appropriately intervenes and request assistant from other health care members.- Appropriately initiates basic life support, takes actions appropriate action.

Work Schedule: 730 am - 8 pm with every other weekend and holiday rotation. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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

Requirements & 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $43208 – $70546/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-09-30.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Internal Search' hiring path.