Charles George VA Medical Center is looking to fill two (2) Nursing Assistant positions with in the Inpatient Mental Health Unit. The Nursing Assistant provides direct care to patients, families, and staff on a regular basis in a Mental Health setting. The Nursing Assistant practices under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, who is accountable for assuring adherence to standards of care.

Duties

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf The primary duties of the Nursing Assistant may vary by assignment. Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: (1) The employee in this position is assigned on a regular basis to the Inpatient Mental Health unit. He/she performs all duties outlined in the position description and performs nursing care tasks as identified in the functional statement. (2) Functions as a member of the Multi-disciplinary Team and assists the Registered Nurse in the care of Veterans with Acute and Chronic Mental Health needs, including observing, recording, and reporting changes in their behavior, and providing reassurance and encouragement. (3) Work with multidisciplinary staff to achieve treatment goals for Veterans by providing input and feedback concerning the effectiveness of interventions. (4) Provides a full range of nursing care to Veterans with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems including personal nursing care, diagnostic support duties and treatment procedures; appropriately responds to Veteran needs and reports changes in Veteran condition to the RN. (5) Performs support duties using initiative and without specific direction such as taking vital signs, recording and reporting deviations to the supervisor; collects specimens and labels for laboratory. (6) Participates in admissions, transfers, escorting Veterans to appointments and therapies, discharges and contributing to the formulation of Treatment goals. (7) Assists in providing information to Veterans and participates in recovery oriented programming including topics such as social skills training, music group, exercise/walking group, therapeutic recreation group, and ADL skills group. (8) Records subjective and objective and significant information about the Veteran's behavior in relation to the treatment plan and Veteran's response to care given on the Veteran's clinical record. (9) Recognizes and respond appropriately to medical and psychiatric emergency situations. (10) Participates in the use of Restraint and Seclusion (R/S), including proper use of and application of R/S; 1:1 observation and documentation on the behavioral R/S flow sheet; and release from R/S. (11) Participates in the Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior; uses principles to prevent or respond to psychiatric emergencies; participates in BERT responses. (12) Provides intensive observation, including 1:1 observation and continuous nursing observation and complies with procedure to ensure Veteran safety. (13) Conducts and documents safety rounds/ environmental rounds per procedure as assigned with an understanding of the importance of monitoring the environment on a continuous basis and reporting all actual or potential hazards per policy. (14) Verifies and understands the proper procedures for the cleaning of reusable medical equipment utilized in the assigned area. (15) Maintains cleanliness of the work area and ensures that the Veteran care areas are stocked with needed supplies. (16) Maintains positive relationships with Veterans, visitors, and personnel. Answers telephones and call lights. Receives and directs Veterans and/or their families by answering routine questions. (17) Participates in in-service programs and assists in the orientation of new employees as needed. (18) Maintains active BLS Certification. (19) Additional duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Night tour of duty. Six 12 hour night tours and one 8 hour night tour. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: 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. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Education or Training. Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR, One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR, Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related [training] course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. English Language Proficiency. NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Experience Requirement: GS-03 Nursing Assistant: For GS-03 Entry Level consideration: None beyond the basic requirements. Experience Requirement: GS-04 Nursing Assistant: (A) Experience : 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, (B) 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 (C) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. 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. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. Experience Requirement: GS-05 Nursing Assistant: (A) Experience: 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, (B) 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 (C) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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. Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team and other personnel. This includes serving as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting. 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-03 to GS-05. References: FORMER VA HANDBOOK 5005 REFERENCE: Part II Appendix G46 EFFECTIVE DATE: May 22, 2024 Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Handbook 5019, Part II, Paragraph 3, II-1, 1(a), A pre-placement physical examination to determine the physical, cognitive and emotional fitness of candidates for appointment in VA is required, and shall be completed prior to appointment, for all full-time individuals appointed under 38 U.S.C., Chapter 73, for Title 38 positions.

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

Contacts

• Address Charles George VA Medical Center 1100 Tunnel Road Asheville, NC 28805 US
• Name: Elise Csajko
• Phone: 631-774-4216
• Email: [email protected]