Nursing Assistant (Mental Health)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Coatesville (Chester County); On-site; USD 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Nursing Assistant to provide patient care across mental health settings, including outpatient, inpatient, home or community living care, and hospice.

The role emphasizes clinical skills, patient observation, and collaboration with the care team. Qualifications cover general experience or education, with options up to a bachelor's level including health-care coursework.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated KSAs: provide range of patient care and contribute to care plan.
• Ability to observe patient status and refer deviations promptly.
• Ability to communicate with patients, families and health professionals.

Responsibilities

• Respond to subtle patient changes and inform nursing staff.
• Maintain a therapeutic environment and report hazards.
• Engage patients in group activities and therapy sessions.
• Use equipment and supplies per procedures and report faulty equipment.
• Document patient condition in chart accurately.
• Recognize emergent care needs and initiate basic life support when needed.
• Manage disruptive behavior and seek appropriate assistance.
• Participate in shift reports and care plan development.

Skills

Compassionate care

Therapeutic communication

Patient observation

Education

Two years of education above high school in health care

Bachelor's degree with 24 health-care hours

Tools

Bladder scan

Glucose monitoring

Job description

• Recruitment or Relocation incentive may be authorized for eligible – highly qualified candidates! *** The nursing assistant works in Mental Health and provides care to patients or residents with acute to chronic conditions. The incumbent will perform in a variety of healthcare settings such as outpatient – inpatient – home or community living care – acute – sub‑acute – chronic maintenance and hospice care.

Summary

• Recruitment or Relocation incentive may be authorized for eligible – highly qualified candidates! *** The nursing assistant works in Mental Health and provides care to patients or residents with acute to chronic conditions. The incumbent will perform in a variety of healthcare settings such as outpatient – inpatient – home or community living care – acute – sub‑acute – chronic maintenance and hospice care.

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
• 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. 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 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: i Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents
• ii Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner
• iii 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
• iv 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 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 KSAs i 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
• ii 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
• iii 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: Two years of Geriatrics and Extended Care experience
• 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: You will be asked You will be asked to participate in a pre‑employment evaluation as part of the pre‑employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Nursing Assistant – vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Responds appropriate to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personnel Participate in patient centered conferences/shift reports and contributing information for the development and review of the nursing care plan
• Maintains a therapeutic environment for patients according to established procedures and policies by reporting actual or potential accidents – fire hazards and faulty equipment
• Engages in group activities such as off‑station trips – reality orientation – current events and other therapeutic groups
• Utilizes equipment and supplies according to procedures and removes defective equipment – reports hazards – observes safety regulations – contributes to infection control and prevention – and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran such as but not limited to: catheterization – colostomy care – skin care simple dressing – application of braces and prosthetic devices – monitoring of meals – and patients on increased levels of observation
• Enters information about the patients condition in the chart – utilizing appropriate formats
• Recognizes and reacts to emergent patient care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance such as recognizing the need for basic life support – controlling bleeding – and assisting with behavior crisis – etc
• Manages disruptive behavior and appropriately intervenes and requests assistance from other healthcare members
• Appropriately initiates basic life support and takes appropriate actions
• Work Schedule: 7:30am – 4:00pm – with rotation to other tours as needed including holidays and weekends
• Compressed/Flexible: Not available
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign‑on Bonus): A recruitment/relocation incentive of up to $3 –000 may be 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual – based on prior [work experience] 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