Nursing Assistant (Mental Health)

Istss; Bedford, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center in Bedford, MA is seeking a Nursing Assistant to provide direct care in the Mental Health Nursing Service. This full-time role requires assisting patients, monitoring conditions, and supporting treatment plans within a team.

The position emphasizes communication, essential nursing skills, and adherence to safety and documentation standards in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in nursing support or hospital care is preferred.
• Ability to follow care plans and document observations clearly.
• English proficiency for spoken and written communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care under supervision of a nurse.
• Monitor patient conditions and report changes promptly.
• Assist with daily living activities and vital signs.
• Maintain a clean, safe environment and proper infection control.

Skills

Nursing care

Communication

Observation skills

Education

One year education above high school

Two years education above high school in health care

Job description

Summary

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.

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
• English Language Proficiency: NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• Experience: Six months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA;OR - Education: One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR - Training: 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: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements - applicants will need to meet the grade level requirements - and the Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• To meet the grade level requirement the applicants must have the following listed below: Requirements for GS-3 Grade: None beyond the basic requirements (Experience and Education)
• Requirements for GS-4 Grade: 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 - healthcare 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 the following KSAs: Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents
• Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner
• 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
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents - their families and other health professionals
• Requirements for GS-5 Grade: 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 the following KSAs: 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
• 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
• 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: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G46
• For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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-03 to GS-05
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• 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
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• The NA must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• These physical requirements will be consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019.

Duties

• 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.