Nursing Assistant- Inpatient Mental Health

About the role

At the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Nursing Assistants play a vital role in supporting compassionate, recovery-oriented care for Veterans. In this dynamic inpatient mental health setting, you will help ensure safety, dignity, and meaningful engagement while working as part of a mission-driven team dedicated to those who served.

Responsibilities

• Provides and documents direct care, including vital signs, oral care, intake and output, belongings inventory, and one-to-one observation
• Facilitates small group activities and meetings to support recovery-oriented care
• Performs procedures within scope, including skin care, simple dressings, topical cream application, and specimen collection
• Observes and reports subtle behavioral, mood, and physical changes to the Registered Nurse (RN)
• Promotes Veteran autonomy through limit-setting and individualized treatment approaches
• Participates in Mental Health Environment of Care Rounds, Environmental Safety Rounds, and Patient Safety Rounds
• Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, and follows all safety and infection control practices
• Utilizes proper aseptic technique and adheres to emergency preparedness and building security procedures
• Serves as a preceptor and mentor to other Nursing Assistants and orients healthcare team members to the unit
• Manages disruptive patient behavior using appropriate interventions and seeks team support when needed

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:
  • Six (6) months of general experience demonstrating the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nursing Assistant
  • One year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation
  • Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant (may meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3)

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, the following 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: Must meet one of 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 human physical and emotional states, therapeutic communication, and technical skills required for basic and intermediate treatments
• Education: Successful completion of two (2) years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care, health care, or a field appropriate to the specialization (e.g., psychology, psychiatric, or operating room technicians)

And 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' 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 (e.g., bladder scan, continuous passive motion device, blood glucose monitoring machine, specimen collection)
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families, and other health professionals

GS-05: Must meet one of the following:

• Experience: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level demonstrating knowledge, skills, and abilities directly related to the specific assignment. Specialized experience includes functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff in the full range of nursing care for patients/residents receiving outpatient, home, community living, preventative, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care
• 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 must demonstrate 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 an RN and/or LVN/LPN
• Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team, and other personnel. Includes serving as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience in a clinical setting
• Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance (e.g., recognizing need for basic life support, controlling bleeding, assisting with behavior crisis)

Reference: VA Qualification Standards

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

Schedule

• Sunday–Saturday, 8- or 12-hour shifts
• Rotating holidays and weekends required
• Shifts scheduled between: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.–3:30 a.m., or 11:30 p.m.–7:30 a.m.