Nursing Assistant (Mental Health)

Veterans Health Administration • Bedford, MA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant works in Nursing Service (Mental Health) at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center in Bedford, Massachusetts. This full-time position is 40 hours per week, and the announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Available tours may include day, evening, or night shifts and weekends or holidays to address staffing shortages or patient volume; shifts may change based on patient and facility needs. The work schedule will be discussed at interview and determined upon selection.

The position provides direct care to veterans, including patients with complex needs. The Nursing Assistant observes and reports changes in physical or emotional condition, documents care and patient responses, supports treatment plans and recovery, and performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and applicable policies. The role also includes helping maintain a safe and clean environment, supporting patient independence, participating in treatment planning, and assisting with patient behavior and emergency situations.

The position’s full performance level is GS-05; selections may be made at GS-03 through GS-05. Applicants must meet the applicable grade requirements, which may be satisfied through qualifying experience, education, or training as described in the announcement. The role requires a pre-employment physical evaluation and may involve exposure to infected patients, contaminated materials, and patients who may be combative. Telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the basic qualification requirement through six months of general experience; one year of relevant post-high-school education; or completion of an intensive, specialized occupation-related Nursing Assistant training course of less than one year. Current VHA employees may qualify under the stated grandfathering provision.
• Meet the applicable grade-level requirements for GS-03, GS-04, or GS-05 through qualifying experience and/or education, and demonstrate the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities for the applicable grade.
• For GS-04, have one year of specialized Nursing Assistant or other medical-field experience, or two years of relevant post-high-school education, and demonstrate the listed patient-care, observation and reporting, equipment-use, and communication abilities.
• For GS-05, have one year of progressively responsible experience equivalent to GS-04, or a qualifying bachelor’s degree, and demonstrate the listed nursing-care, communication and precepting, and emergency-response abilities.
• Complete required background and security investigation, onboarding, and pre-employment requirements, including a physical evaluation and drug testing if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual Employee Health requirements such as TB screening or testing.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Meet the physical requirements, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and the ability to perform prolonged or repeated walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, and patient or object transfers.
• Be able to work effectively in stressful situations and shift priorities based on patient needs.
• Register for Selective Service if subject to the requirement.

Nice To Haves

• One year of prior mental health experience.

Responsibilities

• Use a glucose monitoring machine to obtain 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 coloring, and appetite, and act within the Nursing Assistant’s assigned role.
• Document care, observations, and patient responses using appropriate forms and charting formats.
• Contact appropriate nursing personnel in response to changes in a patient’s condition.
• Provide tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitor and document patient intake and output, and report 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 dressings, and application of braces and prosthetic devices.
• Conduct small-group activities with veterans or residents in accordance with their treatment plans.
• Respect residents’ autonomy and promote independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Actively participate in treatment planning meetings and provide patient information to the treatment team for care planning.
• Use equipment to support veterans’ self-care, including lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and the Veteran/Resident Wandering System.
• Help maintain a clean and safe environment; remove defective equipment, report hazards, observe safety regulations, contribute to infection control, and use 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 unit as appropriate.
• Function as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Manage and respond to patient behavior through appropriate intervention and by requesting assistance from other healthcare team members.
• Initiate basic life support and take appropriate action in emergencies.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step within the appropriate grade may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 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 for prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave related to the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
• After 60 days of employment, eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 may qualify for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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