Nursing Assistant - Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP)

Veterans Health Administration • North Little Rock, AR

8h • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant works in the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System’s Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP), providing continuous support and monitoring to maintain safety, security, and a recovery-oriented environment for Veterans with complex mental health, substance use, and psychosocial needs. The position assists Registered Nurses, therapists, and other staff in providing care and rehabilitation, and helps residents prepare to participate in therapy.

The role includes assisting residents with activities of daily living and routine non-medication care, preventing complications related to limited mobility, supporting nutrition and hydration, and monitoring and reporting changes or concerns to nursing staff. Nursing Assistants also participate in safety activities, may monitor the patient safety monitoring system after completing orientation and competency demonstration, and may precept and train new or lower-graded staff.

The vacancy may be filled at GS-03 through GS-05, with GS-05 as the full performance level. Multiple shifts may include days or nights, compressed schedules, and rotating weekends and holidays; schedules may change based on facility needs. This is a permanent VA position in the Excepted Service. Telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the basic experience or education requirement through one of the following: six months of general experience; one year of post-high-school education with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation; or an intensive, specialized, occupation-related Nursing Assistant training program of less than one year.
• For GS-04 qualification, one year of specialized Nursing Assistant or related medical-field experience, or successful completion of two years of post-high-school education in a relevant field, plus the required demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-04, demonstrate the ability to provide a range of resident care and contribute to care plans and recovery; observe physical or emotional status and timely report deviations; properly use equipment and supplies for simple diagnostic and treatment procedures; and communicate effectively with residents, families, and health professionals.
• For GS-05 qualification, one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-04, or a relevant four-year course of study with 24 semester hours of healthcare-related courses or a bachelor’s degree, plus the required demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-05, demonstrate the ability to assist with the full range of nursing care under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse; communicate orally with residents, families, interdisciplinary teams, and other personnel, including precepting new Nursing Assistants; and recognize and respond to emergent care situations while waiting for assistance.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, submit to urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete online onboarding and application documentation requirements.
• Register with Selective Service if a male born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment upon completion.
• Be able to perform applicable physical tasks, which may include standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing; personal protective equipment and annual TB screening or testing may be required.

Responsibilities

• Assist residents with activities of daily living, including bathing, shaving, feeding, oral hygiene, ambulation, and dressing.
• Assist lower-graded Nursing Assistants in completing assigned care duties.
• Assist Registered Nurses, therapists, and other staff in rehabilitation and patient care.
• Help residents prepare to participate in therapy as much as possible.
• Use clean and aseptic techniques when providing non-medication care.
• Prevent complications of limited mobility or immobilization by turning residents, maintaining proper body alignment, assisting with range-of-motion exercises, and supporting deep breathing and coughing.
• Encourage and provide adequate nutrition and hydration within the resident’s ordered diet.
• Observe enteral feeding and/or gastrostomy tube care and notify Registered Nurses of concerns or issues.
• Monitor and accurately record intake and output and daily weights as ordered.
• Monitor intravenous fluids and inform the nurse when fluids need to be added, alarms occur, or a resident has concerns; monitor for pain, leakage, swelling, or redness at the site and notify the nurse immediately.
• Participate in and lead activities that promote safety for Veterans and others in the work area.
• Monitor the patient safety monitoring system after completing orientation and demonstrating competency.
• Assist with safety monitoring activities, such as hand hygiene and safety support.
• Precept and train new and lower-graded staff in Nursing Assistant functions.
• Recognize and respond to emergent resident-care situations while awaiting assistance, as applicable to the grade-level qualifications.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for qualifying birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income, child-eligibility, and monthly-limit rules.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

What This Job Offers

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