This position is located within the Mental Health Nursing Service at the VA Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. The primary purpose of the work is to perform direct patient safety observation care and related administrative duties in support of the mission of the acute psychiatric unit.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: When a patient has a stated threat of suicide or homicide, one-to-one surveillance will be implemented by a psychology technician (PT). During this time, the PT remains close/within arm's reach of the patient. One-to-one surveillance can be initiated by a licensed professional (i.e. Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse or Social Worker) until a licensed independent practitioner (LlP) assesses and determines the further plan of care. Provides individual 1:1 therapeutic interaction and assistance as needed, applying past experience and fundamental knowledge of issues potentially affecting patients. Observes patients and recognizes signs that require immediate attention of the Registered Nurse or medical staff. At no time does the 1:1 PT leave the patient unattended or unobserved. Breaks will be discussed with the Charge Nurse or assigned nurse. 1:1 PT is assigned to only one patient. The PT maintains a level of awareness of the patient's body language and behaviors, and verbal comments, i.e., pacing, rapid speech, etc. (examples of possible escalation). The PT notifies co-workers that they need backup or assistance when any changes in the patient's behaviors start to occur. lf the patient asks to utilize the restroom, the PT enters the restroom with the patient maintaining 1:1 observation. Documents patient medical records with issues that reflect patient behaviors or incidents pertinent to patient activity and/or which reflect the patient's response to treatment and treatment plans. Practices safety in dealing with a variety of mechanical equipment in the environment, reports equipment in need of repair, and observes and reports unsafe conditions of work environment. Provides initial crisis intervention in situations of an emergent medical, psychiatric and/or behavioral nature. Utilizing training and/or experience in prevention and management of disruptive behavior, the incumbent promptly addresses the situation, initiating appropriate action such as de-escalation. Work Schedule: 12hr shifts; 0730-2000, 1930-0800/Full-Time Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Psychology Technician/PD146190 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/08/2024. ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university with a major in an appropriate social or biological science, which included or was supplemented by 12 semester hours in psychology. Transcript is required at time of application to receive credit. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationManages and Organizes Information Physical Requirements: Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential function of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant for appointment. The loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prothesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation may also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. Reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to: the use of assistive devices, job modification or restructuring, provision of readers and interpreters, or adjusted work schedules. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Kimberly Ross
• Phone: 858-665-1906
• Email: [email protected]