Nursing Assistant Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Jefferson Barracks, MO

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The VA St. Louis Health Care System in St. Louis, Missouri is currently recruiting for a Nursing Assistant for the Mental Health service within the Jefferson Barracks facility. This role involves responsible personal patient care duties, supporting diagnostic procedures, technical nursing treatments, patient charting, and patient instruction. The Nursing Assistant participates as a member of the nursing care team in direct services to patients. Under the clinical supervision of a licensed Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), the Nursing Assistant (NA) performs work assisting other medical personnel in the diagnosis and/or treatment of patient medical conditions.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• 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: Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
• Education or Training: One year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. You must submit evidence of this education or training.
• Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Current Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice.(2) Quality of Experience. To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means.(3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek.
• GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level): None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4 Nursing Assistant (Mid-Level): One year of specialized experience as a NA or experience 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 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; (Transcripts required) AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).
• GS-5 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level): One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) below; OR, Education - Successful completion of a 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; (Transcripts required) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).
• This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• Transferring patients and objects may be required.
• The NA may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures.
• The NA may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.
• The NA must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
• The NA must complete annual employee health requirements, and testing, as a condition of employment.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.
• If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Nice To Haves

• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Responsibilities

• Performs/Assists patients with activities of daily living/personal care and routine and prescribed patient care, utilizing Medical Center resources, as indicated.
• Provide care under the Restorative Care/Therapeutic Activity program.
• Report patient's observations to the Registered Nurse (RN) and other members of the treatment team.
• Assist resident's ability to adjust and adapt to living as independently and as safely as possible.
• Organize and obtain routine supplies and equipment.
• Communicates with patients and families in a courteous, professional manner and provides patient, family/significant others instruction within the incumbent's level of training and education.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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)
• 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.
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED