The Nursing Assistant (NA) assigned to the 4th floor inpatient Mental Health Units has education and skills necessary to provide clinical support for the care of the young adult, adult and geriatric patient. The NA serves as a direct caregiver, patient advocate, and participates in the daily plan of care for the patients in accordance with the established nursing and facility policy/ procedures.

Duties

This Announcement is for Inpatient Mental Health- 4th Floor GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Nursing Assistant (NA) assigned to the 4th floor inpatient Mental Health Units has education and skills necessary to provide clinical support for the care of the young adult, adult and geriatric patient. The NA serves as a direct caregiver, patient advocate, and participates in the daily plan of care for the patients in accordance with the established nursing and facility policy/ procedures. The NA performs all duties under the direction of the RN and LPN. The NA may be assigned clinical and non-clinical duties. Work assignments may consist of clinical and environmental tasks. The NA possesses the personal quality, desire and attitude necessary to adapt to rapidly changing demand on time. FUNCTIONS: 1. Completes ongoing requirements as stated in Atlanta V AMC Mental Health Nursing Assistant (Hybrid 38) job description. 2. Maintains good communication with Nurse Manager, nursing staff, and other facility staff. Serves as a liaison between Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, and Registered Nurses. 3. Communicates and interacts appropriately and courteously with internal and external customers. 4. Functions as a NA on their assigned shift, notifies shift RN, LPN, and other NAs of changes in the nursing department, in patient conditions, in the environment of care and relays any problems to the charge nurse or Nurse Manager. 5. Demonstrates interdepartmental teamwork. 6. Maintains a working knowledge of all policies and procedures pertaining to the NA position. 7. Participates in interviewing, orientation, training, and mentoring of new NA employees. 8. Responsible for maintaining all annual TMS and skills competencies for NAs. 9. Conducts peer reviews and monitors to ensure that services are being delivered to patients properly and as prescribed. 10. Prepares and presents one topic at in-service every six (6) months. 11. Makes environmental and safety rounds, participates in Mental Health Environment of Care education and rounds, ensuring prompt actions are taken if any hazardous items are noted. 12. Makes scheduled and continuous comfort and safety rounds to check on all patients. 13. Performs other duties as assigned by the Nurse Manager, charge nurse, or Team RN. 14. In addition to demonstrated knowledge, skill and ability to develop increased skills at the GS-3 level and acquires knowledge of more extensive, complex procedures. The NA provides personal nursing care to mental health patients and serves as an active, participating member of the interdisciplinary treatment team. The patients' nursing and treatment team needs change within a predicable range. The objectives for care are set in the treatment plan as established by the interdisciplinary treatment teams. 15. Participates in the admission of the patients by obtaining information, orienting patients to the unit and treatment team and checking patients and their belongings for hazardous items. Follows SOP in managing hazardous items and personal belongings. Safety is a number one priority. 16. Checks vital signs, collects specimens and assists the professional nurse or physician with diagnostic testing. Escorts patients to lab, x-ray, or another unit. 17. Encourages independence in patients by instructing, guiding, and assisting patients as needed in activities of daily living 18. Participates in interdisciplinary treatment planning by suggesting nursing actions, and reporting and documenting observations. 19. Utilizes a variety of treatment approaches including individual, re-motivation and reality orientation on a one-to-one and group interaction level. 20. Maintains a therapeutic and safe ward milieu by identifying, reporting, and eliminating environmental hazards. Environment of care assessment includes looking carefully at the entire unit (including the seclusion rooms and Sally Port) to determine if there are any safety issues that need immediate attentions and/or to determine if the unit is clean. Refill supplies. 21. Recognizes and reports behavioral changes, and changes in the patient's condition that may be related to medications or sensory distortions. Makes rounds every 15 minutes and documents rounding sheet. 22. Places patient in seclusion and/or restrains patient as directed, to ensure the safety of patient and/or staff. 23. Encourages patient and family to actively participate in the individualized patient centered treatment plan. 24. Demonstrates acceptable, healthy behavior as a role model for patient behavior. Work Schedule: 12 hours compressed tour with weekend and holiday rotation. Compressed/Flexible:Available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education or Training. One year above high school with courses related to the [NA] 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. 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-03 Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 Experience and Education: 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; AND 1.Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. 2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. 3. Ability to properly use equipment, materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures such as bladder scan, continuous passive motion device, blood glucose monitoring machine, specimen collection, etc. 4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-05 Experience and Education: 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; AND Demonstrated KSAs 1. Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in a hospital, long term care or outpatient setting under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse. 2. Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team and other personnel. This includes serving as a preceptor to new Nursing Assistants by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting.3. Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance. For example, recognizing need for basic life support, controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis, etc. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/81 PART II APPENDIX G46 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05. Physical Requirements: This position requires walking. standing, stooping, lifting (not more than 10 lbs.), bending, pushing (not more than 10 lbs.), and pulling (not more than 10 lbs.). Must be able to utilize good body mechanics and have stamina to withstand stress.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: 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. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033 US
• Name: Myceria Gardner
• Email: [email protected]