Career Center

Summary

The Mental Health-Inpatient Nursing Assistant is a highly functioning member of the West palm Beach VA nursing team. The Nursing Assistant has the responsibility to provide direct support to the patients in the inpatient Mental Health unit providing assistance of a technical - specialized - and supportive nature to nursing - mental health and medical staff in the diagnosis and treatment of resident illness or medical and psychiatric conditions.

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
• Six 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. English Language Proficiency
• NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Grandfathering Provisions
• All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS
• Creditable Experience
• Knowledge of Current Practice
• To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with the current practice Quality of Experience
• To be creditable - NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference - or through other independent means
• Part-Time Experience
• Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek
• For example - a NA employed 20 hours a week - or on a 1/2-time basis - would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.GS-3 NA (Entry Level) Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignments
• Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised
• 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: 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
• Assignment
• Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised
• NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded NAs - licensed nursing staff - and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute - sub-acute - or chronic states of illness
• The significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors - higher graded NAs or other health care professionals
• In this role - the NA functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists higher graded NAs - licensed nursing staff - and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home or community living care - or other patients who are in acute - sub-acute - or chronic states of illness
• The NA in this role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors - higher graded NAs - or other health care 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
• 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
• Assignment
• This is the full performance level for NAs
• NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute - sub acute or chronic states of illness
• The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements
• NAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role
• Physical Requirements: These physical requirements will be consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS5
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS3 to GS5.

Duties

• The Nursing Assistant function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients receiving inpatient/outpatient care including - but not limited to - the medical-surgical unit - Emergency Room - Acute Mental Health Unit - the Long-Term Care Units - and Ambulatory Care
• Duties include but is not limited to: Provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents
• Bathing
• toileting
• ambulation
• feeding
• positioning
• assists with oral hygiene care
• takes vital signs
• measures intake and output
• measures height and weight
• application of a condom catheter
• Participates in the implementation of the patient's therapeutic rehabilitative - restorative - and supportive treatment plan of care - to include range of motion exercises - application of anti-embolic stockings
• Perform a variety of treatment procedures which includes - collecting specimens such as sputum - urine - blood - and feces in an appropriate manner
• Application of external urinary devices - and oral suctioning - assist RN with wound care/skin care - application of skin barrier - care of foley catheter - un-medicated enemas - stoma care - G-tube care - ostomy care - and pressure ulcer identification
• Utilizing behavioral interventions and de-escalation techniques acquired in PMDB training
• Observe patients/residents' or residents' physical or emotional status and refer deviations and /or problems to supervisor in a timely manner
• Participates in maintaining a clean - safe environment for the patient/residents
• Serves as the unit safe patient handling liaison
• Proper use equipment - materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures such as bladder scan - continuous passive motion device - blood glucose monitoring machine - EKG machine - patient lift equipment - pulse oximetry - instruct/monitor/document use of in spirometer - restraints application - set-up oxygen /suction equipment - operation of specialty beds - assemble of traction devices - wheelchairs - use of Velcro binders
• Escorts patients to and from appointments and /or other activities within the medical center facility per protocol
• Provide direct - one-to one observation of patients who are in danger of hurting themselves either intentionally or because of confused behavior
• Ability to redirect the patient - help with orientation of the patient - and provides ongoing observation of the patient and reports any changes in condition to the RN
• Ability to apply protective restraints as needed and at the direction of the RN
• Complies with required documentation when providing one-to one and close observation
• Provide the proper hand-off communication to the appropriated staff (NA - licensed staff - etc.) when caring for our Veterans
• Collect specimen and transport to the lab
• Assists with transferring patients to and from bed - wheelchairs and stretchers utilizing appropriate body mechanics and assistive devices
• Actively participates and encourages patients to participate in group or one-on-one activities as a part of the plan for therapeutic recreation
• Records pertinent information within the medical record as authorized
• And other duties as needed
• Preferred Experience: At least one year of experience in Behavioral Health is preferred
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Days (6) 12 hour and (1) 8 hour shift per pay period
• alternate weekend/holidays Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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.