Nursing Assistant- Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

United States Department of Veterans Affairs • Omaha, NE

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This Psychiatric Nursing Assistant position is located within a secure - inpatient mental health unit at the Omaha VA Medical Center - Omaha - NE. The Nursing Assistant works as part of a team providing Veteran specific care for individuals who may be impacted by psychiatric - medical - and geriatric conditions. The Nursing Assistant performs a range of duties under the direction of the RN including personal care - diagnostic support procedures - treatments - charting and resident teaching.

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 to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA): Six (6) months of general experience Experience must demonstrate 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 also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.
• GS-04 - To qualify at the GS-4 level you must meet 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 the human physical and emotional states - therapeutic communication - and technical skills required for basic and intermediate treatments OR - EDUCATION: Successful completion of two (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 of the position - such as education in a program for psychology - psychiatric - or operating room technicians AND - in addition you must demonstrate the following 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' or 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 such as bladder scan - continuous passive motion device - blood glucose monitoring machine - specimen collection - etc Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents - their families and other health professionals
• GS-05 - To qualify at the GS-5 level you must meet the following: EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home - or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative - acute - sub-acute - chronic - maintenance - and hospice care OR - EDUCATION: Successful completion of 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 - in addition you must demonstrate the following 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

Responsibilities

• Taking-recording-reporting vital signs accurately - assisting ambulation - transporting patients within the medical center and other duties or care as directed by Registered Nurses - Licensed Practical Nurses or providers
• Observing patients who may be confused or have other cognitive issues and reports to nurse when condition changes
• Initiating emergency action in life threatening situations such as cardiac and/or respiratory arrest - massive bleeding - shock - or assaultive behavior by alerting licensed personnel immediately
• Documenting vital signs and activities of daily living in the electronic record or paper record during contingency
• Performs continuous rounding while on mental health unit
• Assists ward staff with direct patient care activities as assigned
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Additional Pay: Shift Differential - 10% of basic pay for work performed during regularly scheduled hours between 6pm and 6am Weekend Premium - 25% of basic pay for work performed between the hours of midnight Friday and midnight Sunday This includes continuous service connected to work performed during these hours Holiday Pay - 2 times basic hourly rate for regularly scheduled - non-overtime work on a designated holiday
• 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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)

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees