Nursing Assistant (Mental Health)

Nursing Assistant Position

This JOA will be used to fill one vacant Nursing Assistant position within the 1F unit in the Mental Health Department at the Richmond VA Medical Center. This position is open to all Nursing Assistants currently seeking employment in Richmond, Virginia. Resumes will be referred to the hiring manager once the vacancy closes on Thursday, November 13th. You will receive an email notification when your resume has been referred to the hiring manager, if applicable.

Responsibilities include providing care and services to the Acute Mental Health unit and floating as Patient Safety Attendants to cover patients on medical units with SI / HI and sitters for safety. Provides care of patients / residents and their environment contributing to optimizing patient / resident outcomes as a member of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team. Provides direct patient / resident care in the provision of the psychological, physical, social, and to assist on medical units with activities of daily living, and support. Provides for the care of patients / residents with dignity and continuous consideration of the individuals emotional needs. Able to perform PMDB Prevention, Management of Disruptive Behavior including containment. Provides reporting, communication, and documentation in the computerized patient record system with other members of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team. Maintains certification, BCLS, and currency in required education and training as identified by regulating agencies, the PVAMC, VISN and National Agencies. Demonstrates competency and consistency in the technical use of equipment, application of technical standards and performance of administrative support duties. Demonstrates knowledge of and compliance with standard operating procedures for the maintenance of reusable medical equipment. Participates in Medical Center activities and demonstrates skills and behaviors that provide and promote positive internal and external customer relationships. Attends unit level and Medical Center meetings and develops as an employee to support committee participation. Maintains patient / resident safety standards assuring patient / resident privacy, patient / resident physical safety, and patient / resident psychological safety. Establishes working relationships with multi-disciplinary and multi-level members of the work team promoting the physical, psychological, and emotional safety of the working environment for all team members. Aids and support to the Registered Nurse and / or provider within the scope of the CNA certification / grade and consistent with Medical Center policy. The Acute Mental Health 1F Nursing Assistant functions under the supervision of an RN on the unit and is responsible for but not limited to completing activities of daily living (bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming), 1 : 1 supervision when needed, the reporting of abnormal findings, accompanying to appointments, and engaging resident in activities.

Major duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to :

• Obtain vital signs
• Assist RN with admissions
• Inventory and skin checks on new admissions
• Perform skin search with RN to look for contraband
• Monitor patients on 1 : 1 observation for SI / HI, safety, and fall risks on unit 1F Acute Mental Health and float to medical units for patients on 1 : 1 observation
• Respond to Code Atlas throughout medical center and on unit 1F
• Float to Advanced Dementia unit as needed
• Perform 15 minute rounds on unit 1F and conduct groups for the patients

Work Schedule : Day / evening rotation. 2 (12h) and 2 (8h) or 5 (8 hour shifts); (7 : 30a-4p and 3 : 30p-mid), including every other weekend and holidays required.

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 off 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 Authorized

Functional Statement # : 000000

Requirements

Conditions of Employment : You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background / security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements :

GRADE DETERMINATIONS :

GS-5 NURSING ASSISTANT (NA) : (a) EXPERIENCE : One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level (2 full years of experience) which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) below; OR, (b) 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 (c) Demonstrated 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.

Preferred experience : At least 1-3 years Mental Health experience. PMDB containment.

Reference : For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https : / / www.va.gov / ohrm / QualificationStandards / . VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard, date 05 / 2025.