Nursing Assistant (Mental Health)

Veterans Health Administration

Bedford (MA)

On-site

USD 44,000 - 72,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Veterans Health Administration is seeking a Nursing Assistant for the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center in Bedford, Massachusetts. The role is full-time (40 hours/week) within the Nursing Service (Mental Health) and involves working shifts that may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays to meet patient needs.

Responsibilities include glucose monitoring, direct patient care, observation of condition changes, and documentation.

Qualifications

No formal degrees specified in the posting.

Responsibilities

Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans.
Provides direct care for complex veterans.
Observes changes in patients and takes appropriate action.
Documents care, observations and responses.
Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice (e.g., enema, catheterization, wound care).
Maintains safety and infection control; supports treatment planning meetings.

Job description

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This Nursing Assistant position is located in the Nursing Service (Mental Health) at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center, in Bedford, Massachusetts. This is a full time position at 40-hours per week.

Key Responsibilities

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This Nursing Assistant position is located in the Nursing Service (Mental Health) at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center, in Bedford, Massachusetts. This announcement is intended to fill multiple vacancies throughout the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bedford, MA. Available shifts could be days, evenings, nights, or include weekends/holidays to cover shortages or high patient volume.

Shift changes will be considered based on patient and facility needs. Major Duties include, but are not limited to: 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, 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: Multiple tours available; to be discussed at interview and determined on selection.

Functional Statement #: F01837, F01838, F01839 Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is not a Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by a special rate. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This is an open continuous announcement until September 30, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.

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 $43925 – $71717/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-09-30.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.