Nursing Assistant - Inpatient Mental Health

This is a Nursing Assistant position for Inpatient Mental Health unit at the VA North Texas Medical Facility.

This position is within 100% direct patient care locked units providing care for our veterans with acute and chronic mental health ailments requiring inpatient treatment. The Mental Health Nursing Assistant plays a vital role in maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment by assisting with ADLs, monitoring patient behaviors, monitoring patients on close observation status (1 : 1), supporting de-escalation efforts, and performing regular safety checks in the Mental Health ward. The Nursing Assistant performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, positive and outstanding customer service, and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran.

Major Duties include but are not limited to :

• Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans.
• Provides direct care for complex veterans.
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition, i.e. behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc.
• Documents care given, observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms.
• Performs oral and nasopharyngeal suctioning.
• Administers complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitors and documents patient intake and output.
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran for such procedures but not limited to : enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care simple dressing, application of braces and prosthetic devices.
• Works on small group activities with veterans / residents according to patients / veterans' treatment plan.
• Recognizes the resident's autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect, limit setting and individualized treatment.
• Actively participates in treatment planning meetings.
• Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care, such as lift equipment, hydro sound tubs, and veteran / resident wandering system.
• Verbally provides patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran / resident's plan of care, participates in treatment team meetings for resident care planning.
• Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats.
• Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient / resident.
• Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, observes safety regulations, contributes to infection control, and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties.

Work Schedule : Night Shift available. TOD may change based on the needs of the unit : Night Shift : 7 : 30 PM - 8 : 00 AM, The schedule is comprised of 6 twelve-hour shifts and 1 eight-hour shift per pay period, totaling 80 hours per pay period (PP).

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) : Not 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.

Functional Statement # : 52871-F, 52795-F, 52804-F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov / wp-content / uploads / sites / 5 / Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf