CNA (1st Shift)

DHRM • Danville, VA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Nurse Aide works directly with patients at Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute, a 72-bed Joint Commission-accredited state mental health facility in Danville, Virginia. The role supports therapeutic goals through activities of daily living, responds to patients’ problems and concerns, encourages participation in activities, intervenes in behavioral problems and crisis situations, and promotes patients’ awareness and coping skills in relation to judicial controls when applicable.

The position involves working with patients who may become verbally or physically aggressive. The CNA is expected to understand and use the least restrictive interventions available under hospital policy and to avoid seclusion and restraint whenever possible. The role requires observing, conversing with, and listening to patients; interacting therapeutically; and monitoring and reporting changes in patients’ medical and psychiatric status.

The CNA works a first-shift schedule consisting of two 12-hour shifts (7:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.) and two 8-hour shifts (7:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.), with a 30-minute meal break. The schedule includes some holidays on a rotating basis and every other weekend. First-shift differentials are $3.00 per hour for weekends and weekday holidays.

Requirements

• Be licensed and in good standing as a Nurse Aide in the Commonwealth of Virginia; the license must remain valid and in good standing throughout employment.
• Have basic computer skills; training will be provided to complete documentation in an Electronic Health Record.
• Hold a valid driver’s license and maintain its validity throughout employment.
• Ability to follow written and verbal directions.
• Physical and mental ability to participate in patient treatment and behavior management, including manual tasks, walking, sitting, standing, lifting, seeing, hearing, breathing, learning, writing, and mathematical calculations.
• Ability to lift objects weighing more than 50 pounds.
• Ability to walk and/or stand for at least 75% of the shift.
• Ability to work with patients who may become verbally and/or physically aggressive.
• Work some holidays on a rotating basis and every other weekend.

Nice To Haves

• High school diploma or GED.
• Experience in a psychiatric or healthcare facility, acute care, long-term care, or correctional setting.
• Veteran status.
• Fluency in Spanish and English.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with patients to achieve therapeutic goals through activities of daily living.
• Attend to patients’ problems and concerns and encourage them to participate in activities.
• Provide intervention for behavior problems and crisis situations.
• Promote patients’ awareness and coping skills to deal with realities of judicial controls as required.
• Understand and use the least restrictive interventions available under hospital policy, avoiding seclusion and restraint whenever possible.
• Observe, converse with, and listen to patients to distinguish appropriate from inappropriate behavior.
• Interact with patients in a therapeutic manner.
• Monitor and report changes in patients’ medical and psychiatric status.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed