Nursing Assistant - Mental Health

Nursing Assistant – Mental Health

Posted: 01-Jul-26
Location: Iowa City, Iowa

Join the Iowa City VA Health Care System as a Mental Health Nursing Assistant – providing direct patient care on the acute inpatient psychiatry unit. You will support a safe therapeutic environment, assist with daily living needs, observe and report clinical changes, and engage Veterans in recovery‑oriented, trauma‑informed care.

• 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 (Proficient in basic written and spoken English per 38 U.S.C. 7402(d))
• Experience – Education or Training:
• Six (6) months of general experience demonstrating the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nursing Assistant.
• OR – One year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation.
• OR – Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation‑related training course of study or program of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS‑3.
• Qualifications for each grade:
• GS‑03 – None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS‑04 – One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or in another medical field (licensed practical nurse, health technician, hospital corpsman, etc.) with technical and nursing skills, therapeutic communication, and skills required for basic and intermediate treatments; or two (2) years above high school with related courses and demonstration of KSAs such as patient/resident care, observation, communication, equipment use.
• GS‑05 – One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments equivalent to the GS‑4 level demonstrating knowledge, skills, and abilities; or a 4‑year degree with related coursework and demonstration of KSAs such as full‑range nursing care and communication with interdisciplinary team. Includes preceptor duties and emergent situation response.

• Provide ADL support including bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting and promoting dignity and independence.
• Assist with meals, hydration, ambulation, transfers and safe patient handling.
• Participate in safety checks, 1:1 observation, environmental rounds and report suicide/self‑harm or behavioral risks.
• Observe and report changes in mental status, behavior, mood, sleep, appetite, agitation or withdrawal.
• Use therapeutic communication, redirection, de‑escalation and support Code Green response within training.
• Assist with therapeutic groups, structured activities and recovery‑oriented interventions as delegated.
• Obtain and record vital signs, pain score, height/weight, oxygen saturation and other routine measurements as assigned.
• Work schedule:
  
  intermittent position (non‑fulltime, sporadic, unpredictable). Employees serve under an excepted or competitive service appointment without a regularly scheduled tour of duty.
• Recruitment incentive, relocation assistance, pay, insurance, telework – not available or authorized.
• Physical requirements:
  
  participation in a pre‑employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre‑employment process; questions about physical demands to be addressed at evaluation.