Nursing Assistant (Nursing, Mental Health)

Veterans Health Administration • Bedford, MA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant position is in the Nursing Service (Mental Health) at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center in Bedford, Massachusetts. This is a full-time position at 40 hours per week, with multiple vacancies. The full performance level is GS-05; applicants may be selected at GS-03 through GS-05. Multiple tours are available, with shift determined based on patient and facility needs. Shifts may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, or holidays. This is not a virtual or telework position.

The Nursing Assistant provides direct care to veterans with complex needs, monitors and documents health and behavioral changes, performs nursing procedures within scope and policy, and contributes to treatment planning and a safe care environment. The role also includes serving as a safe patient handling liaison, preceptor, and mentor, and orienting healthcare team members to the unit as appropriate.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-3: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform Nursing Assistant work; or one year of post-high-school education with related courses; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training course or program of less than one year. Grandfathering may apply to qualifying current VHA employees.
• For GS-4: one year of specialized Nursing Assistant experience or experience in another medical field performing technical and nursing skills; or two years of post-high-school education in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care, healthcare, or an appropriate field of study. Applicants must also demonstrate ability to provide patient/resident care and contribute to care plans, observe physical or emotional status and report deviations promptly, use equipment for simple diagnostic and treatment procedures, and communicate effectively with patients, families, and health professionals.
• For GS-5: one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 related to the assignment; or a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of healthcare-related courses, or a bachelor's degree. Applicants must also demonstrate ability to assist with the full range of nursing care under the direction of an RN and/or LVN/LPN; communicate orally with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and other personnel, including precepting new Nursing Assistants; and recognize and respond to emergent care situations while awaiting assistance.
• Meet the applicable grade-level requirements and demonstrate the associated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Subject to background and security investigation and required online onboarding.
• Provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; from May 7, 2025, non-REAL-ID-compliant driver's licenses or state IDs cannot be used as acceptable identification.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.
• Complete all application requirements in the announcement’s Required Documents section. Current and former federal employees must submit the required SF-50 documentation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated and requires written certification at its conclusion.
• Meet the physical demands of the position, including required visual acuity, hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and capacity for prolonged walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; patient and object transfers may be required.
• Be capable of working effectively in stressful situations and shifting priorities based on patient needs.

Nice To Haves

• One year of prior Mental Health experience.

Responsibilities

• Use a glucose monitoring machine to obtain veterans’ glucose readings and refer deviations to appropriate healthcare staff.
• Provide direct care to veterans with complex needs.
• Observe subtle changes in residents’ condition, including behavior, mood, skin color, and appetite, and take appropriate action within the Nursing Assistant’s role.
• Document care, observations, responses, and residents’ conditions using appropriate tools, forms, and chart formats.
• Respond to subtle patient changes by contacting appropriate nursing personnel.
• Provide complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitor and document patient intake and output, reporting deviations promptly and accurately.
• Perform nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures, including enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressing, and application of braces and prosthetic devices.
• Conduct small-group activities with veterans or residents according to their treatment plans.
• Respect residents’ autonomy and promote independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Participate actively in treatment planning meetings and provide patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in care plans.
• Use equipment to promote veteran self-care, including lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and the Veteran/Resident Wandering System.
• Help maintain a clean and safe environment by removing defective equipment, reporting hazards, observing safety regulations, contributing to infection control, and using proper aseptic technique.
• Serve as the unit safe patient handling liaison.
• Serve as a preceptor and mentor to other Nursing Assistants and orient healthcare team members to the units as appropriate.
• Function as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Manage patient behavior and intervene appropriately, requesting assistance from other healthcare team members when needed.
• Initiate basic life support and take appropriate action during emergent situations.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• Eligible selected applicants may request credit for prior federal work or military service toward annual leave accrual; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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