Nursing Assistant - Mental Health

Pennsylvania Psychological Association; Iowa City (IA); Presencial; USD 35 000 - 55 000; Tempo integral

Resumo da oferta

The Iowa City VA Health Care System is hiring a Nursing Assistant for the Mental Health Unit. This role provides direct patient care and supports a safe therapeutic environment, assisting with recovery-oriented and trauma-informed care for veterans in acute psychiatric stabilization.

The NA assists with activities of daily living, promoting dignity, privacy and independence. Qualifications include basic requirements for U.S.

Qualificações

• Six (6) months of general experience
• One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one year as a NA may meet in full the experience requirements
• Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the nurse care plan
• Ability to observe patients' or residents' physical or emotional status and refer deviations to supervisor in a timely manner
• Ability to use equipment and supplies in basic diagnostic and treatment procedures
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and health professionals

Responsabilidades

• Provide direct patient care and support a safe therapeutic environment
• Assist with activities of daily living to promote dignity, privacy and independence
• Support safe ambulation, transfers and use of mobility devices with safe patient handling
• Maintain ward cleanliness and manage linens; apply restraints or protective devices as ordered
• Participate in safety checks and observation rounds and environmental safety activities
• Document care and observations according to policy and unit expectations
• Assist with admission, transfer, discharge and orientation processes for veterans
• Observe and report changes in behavior, mood, cognition, or physical status to the RN
• Use therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques to support veterans in distress

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Summary

The Iowa City VA Health Care System is hiring a Nursing Assistant for the Mental Health Unit. This role provides direct patient care - supports a safe therapeutic environment - and assists with recovery-oriented - trauma-informed care for veterans in acute psychiatric stabilization. The Nursing Assistant assists with activities of daily living - promoting dignity - privacy - and independence.

Qualifications

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
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Experience - Education or Training
• You must meet one of the following to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA): Six (6) months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS-03 - None beyond the basic requirements
• NAs at this grade are considered entry-level and are closely supervised
• GS-04 - To qualify at the GS-4 level you must meet the following: EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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 two (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 - in addition you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (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 residents' 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
• GS-05 - To qualify at the GS-5 level you must meet the following: EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment
• Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home - or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative - acute - sub-acute - chronic - maintenance - and hospice care
• OR - EDUCATION: Successful completion of 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 - in addition you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (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: 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. Preferred Experience: Prior inpatient mental health experience

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties of the Nursing Assistant - Mental Health include - but are not limited to: Support safe ambulation - transfers - and use of mobility devices using safe patient handling practices
• Maintain ward cleanliness - handle linens - and apply physical restraints or protective devices as ordered
• Participate in safety checks - observation rounds - and environmental safety activities
• Recognize and report changes in behavior - mood - cognition - or physical status to the RN
• Use therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques to support veterans in distress
• Document care - observations - and safety checks according to policy and unit expectations
• Assist with admission - transfer - discharge - and orientation processes for veterans
• Work Schedule: Intermittent
• Intermittent employment is defined as non-fulltime employment in which employees serve under an excepted or competitive service appointment without a regularly scheduled tour of duty
• A position with an intermittent work schedule is sporadic and unpredictable so that a tour of duty cannot be regularly scheduled in advance
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or 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
• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.