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Summary
The Nursing Assistant supports the inpatient Mental Health unit at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System by providing safe, direct, and therapeutic care to Veterans. Responsibilities include assisting licensed staff, supporting treatment and recovery activities, responding to emergencies, leading groups, and helping maintain a safe and healing environment.
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Duties
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Primary Duties - Inpatient Mental Health Nursing Assistant (Not Limited To):
- Provide direct patient care including, but not limited to bathing, toileting, feeding, ambulation, positioning, and personal hygiene
- Obtain and document vital signs, intake/output, height, and weight
- Assist in implementing therapeutic and supportive care plans
- Perform treatment procedures not limited to specimen collection, external urinary device application, oral suctioning, stoma/ostomy care, G-tube care, and skin care
- Support wound and pressure injury care under RN guidance
- Utilize behavioral interventions and de-escalation techniques per PMDB training
- Observe and report physical or emotional changes in patients in a timely manner
- Maintain a clean, safe, therapeutic environment
- Serve as the unit's safe patient
- Handling liaison and use proper body mechanics and assistive devices for transfers
- Safely operate patient care equipment including, but not limited to bladder scanners, glucose monitors, CPM devices, pulse oximetry, patient lifts, EKG machines, specialty beds, traction devices, oxygen/suction equipment, and wheelchairs
- Escort patients to appointments and activities within the facility- Provide continuous 1:1 observation for high-risk patients; assist with redirection, orientation, and monitoring
- Apply protective restraints only as directed by an RN and complete required documentation
- Participate in effective hand-off communication to clinical staff
- Transport collected specimens to the laboratory
- Assist with patient transfers using safe handling techniques and assistive devices
- Encourage and participate in group or one-on-one therapeutic activities
- Document authorized patient care information in the medical record
- Maintain clean patient rooms, equipment, and common areas
- Assist with patient/family orientation to the unit and provide routine instructions
- Initiate emergency procedures such as CPR and choking response
- Respond to call bells and assist with unit communication
- Participate in PMDB training and maintain required certifications
- Demonstrate strong customer service and support VA values
- Communicate observations to the interdisciplinary team to support care planning
- Assist with diet-related tasks including, but not limited to meal delivery, tray pickup, diet accuracy checks, and identifying nutritional risks
- Deliver nourishments and assist with menu selection processes
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of unit SOPs and remain competent in all observation levels
- Float to other mental health or nursing areas as needed
- Participate in shift-change reports and warm hand-off communication
- Perform additional nursing support duties as assigned and not limited to the tasks above.
Preferred Experience:
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Preferred experience includes providing direct patient care in mental health settings, assisting with daily living activities, observing and reporting behavioral changes, supporting therapeutic interventions, and working with patients who have acute or chronic psychiatric conditions.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Work Schedule: Various, rotating weekends/holidays
Telework: Not eligible for Telework
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 40799F, 41681F & 41682F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• You 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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.
• 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.
• Grandfathering Provisions: All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it,

[Experience or] Education or Training.
(1) Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA;
OR,
(2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; (transcripts required)
OR,
(3) 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. (transcripts required)
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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level)
(a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
(b) Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.
GS-4 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, healthcare 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:
i Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
ii Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
iii 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.
iv Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.
(d) Assignment. i: Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness. The significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs or other health care professionals. ii In this role, the NA functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care, or other patients who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness. The NA in this role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs, or other health care professionals.
GS-5 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level).
(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 KSAs.
i 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.
ii 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.
iii 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.
(d) Assignment. This is the full performance level for NAs. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. NAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role. 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).
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS03 to GS05.
Physical Requirements: The position requires the