Nursing Assistant- Intermittent Mental Health

About the role

The Intermittent Mental Health Nursing Assistant (NA) functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. Patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements.

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.
• 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 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 meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3).
• English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements 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-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 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 (e.g., psychology, psychiatric, or operating room technicians); AND
• Demonstrated 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' 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-5 NA

• Experience: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level demonstrating KSAs directly related to the specific assignment. Specialized experience includes functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other care team members in the full range of nursing care for patients/residents receiving outpatient, home, or community living care, or other patients/residents receiving preventative, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care; 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 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).

Preferred Experience

• VA experience
• Mental health experience
• Nursing assistant experience

Physical Requirements

• Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.
• Potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• Transferring patients and objects may be required.
• Exposure to infected patients and contaminated materials; may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures.
• Occasional exposure to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.
• Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
• Must complete annual employee health requirements (e.g., annual TB screening or testing) as a condition of employment.
• Physical requirements consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019.
• May qualify based on the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard (applicable only to current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the criteria).

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05.

Duties

• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures (e.g., 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 treatment plan.
• Recognizes residents' autonomy and promotes independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Demonstrates motivation and creativity in addressing problems which impede patient care.
• Provides direct physical and emotional care to the chronically ill and/or dying patient (grooming, feeding, elimination, psychosocial needs) to improve quality of life.
• Acts as a patient advocate ensuring patients receive all necessary care efficiently.
• Actively participates in Treatment Planning Meetings.
• Utilizes equipment to promote veteran self-care (lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, Veteran/Resident Wandering System).
• Enters information about residents' condition in the chart using appropriate formats.
• Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment; removes defective equipment, reports hazards, observes safety regulations, contributes to infection control, and utilizes proper aseptic technique.
• Serves as the unit safe patient handling liaison.
• Serves as preceptor and mentor to other NAs; shares increased knowledge and skill in observation, communication, intervention, and documentation.
• Mentors new employees; orients members of the health care team to the unit as appropriate.
• Functions as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Manages distributed patient behavior/care and appropriately intervenes, requesting assistance from other health care members as appropriate.
• Recognizes medical and psychiatric emergencies and institutes proper measures by summoning professional assistance.
• Appropriately initiates basic life support and takes appropriate action.
• Performs more complex medical nursing care treatment under the direction and supervision of the RN (e.g., pressure ulcer prevention/observation/treatment Stage I–IV; assist licensed staff with bladder scanning and continence training).
• Follows universal precautions; demonstrates competence according to isolation, infection control, and Tuberculosis (TB) policy/procedure.

Work Schedule

Intermittent: 7:30 am–8:00 pm or 7:30 pm–8:00 am, including every other weekend and holidays as needed. Tour of duty varies and is determined by the supervisor. The intermittent work schedule is sporadic and unpredictable, so a tour of duty cannot be regularly scheduled in advance.

Pay & Benefits

• Pay: