Nursing Assistant - Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Iowa City, IA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Iowa City VA Health Care System is hiring a Nursing Assistant for its Mental Health Unit. The position provides direct patient care to veterans undergoing acute psychiatric stabilization, supports a safe therapeutic environment, and assists with recovery-oriented, trauma-informed care. The Nursing Assistant helps veterans with activities of daily living while promoting dignity, privacy, and independence.

The role supports safe mobility and transfers, maintains ward cleanliness, participates in safety checks and observation rounds, and reports changes in veterans’ behavior, mood, cognition, or physical status to the RN. It also involves therapeutic communication and de-escalation, documentation of care and safety observations, and assisting with admissions, transfers, discharges, and orientation.

This is an intermittent, non-full-time position with sporadic and unpredictable hours and no regularly scheduled tour of duty. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is within the VA’s Whole Health System of care, which emphasizes personalized health plans, healing relationships and environments, and connection to the veteran’s community.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification; training is provided.
• Meet one basic qualification pathway: six months of general experience demonstrating ability to acquire Nursing Assistant knowledge and skills; one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the occupation; or completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training course of less than one year.
• For GS-4 qualification, meet either one year of Nursing Assistant or other medical-field experience performing relevant technical and nursing skills, or two years of post-high-school education in relevant nursing care, health care, or an appropriate specialty field, and demonstrate the specified patient-care, observation, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-5 qualification, meet either one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-4 with directly related knowledge, skills, and abilities, or a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with 24 semester hours of relevant health-care courses, or possession of a bachelor’s degree; also demonstrate the specified nursing-care, communication, and emergency-response abilities.
• Pass the required pre-employment physical examination or evaluation.
• Complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, application documentation, and identification requirements.
• Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position must submit to urinalysis for illegal drug screening; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• If using education or training to qualify, submit the required legible transcripts or training/enrollment documentation; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Nice To Haves

• Prior inpatient mental health experience.

Responsibilities

• Support safe ambulation and transfers and assist with mobility devices using safe patient-handling practices.
• Maintain ward cleanliness and handle linens.
• Apply physical restraints or protective devices as ordered.
• Participate in safety checks, observation rounds, and environmental safety activities.
• Recognize and report changes in veterans’ behavior, mood, cognition, or physical status to the RN.
• Use therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques to support veterans in distress.
• Document care, observations, and safety checks according to policy and unit expectations.
• Assist with veterans’ admission, transfer, discharge, and orientation processes.
• Assist with activities of daily living while promoting dignity, privacy, and independence.
• Provide nursing care under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse, as applicable to the grade and assignment.
• Recognize and respond to emergent care situations, including basic life support needs, bleeding, or behavioral crises, while awaiting assistance, as applicable to the grade and qualifications.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive federal benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type, and applicants are directed to contact the hiring agency for details.
• Selected applicants may request and receive approval for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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