Nursing Assistant- Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

Summary

This Psychiatric Nursing Assistant position is located within a secure inpatient mental health unit at the Omaha VA Medical Center in Omaha, NE. The Nursing Assistant works as part of a team providing veteran‑specific care for individuals who may be impacted by psychiatric, medical, and geriatric conditions. The Nursing Assistant performs a range of duties under the direction of the RN including personal care, diagnostic support procedures, treatments, charting, and resident teaching.

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.

• 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; in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) a person shall serve in direct patient‑care positions only if proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Experience—education or training:
  You must meet one of the following to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA): six (6) months of general experience demonstrating the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of an 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;
  
  an NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS‑3.
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.
• GS‑03 – None beyond the basic requirements.
• NAs at this grade are considered entry‑level and are closely supervised.
• GS‑04 – To qualify at the GS‑4 level you must meet the following: experience—one (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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.
• Education:
  
  Successful completion of two (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, psychiatry, or operating‑room technicians.
• 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' 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.
• GS‑05 – To qualify at the GS‑5 level you must meet the following: experience—one (1) 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.
• Specialized experience:
  Includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home, or community living care, or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative, acute, sub‑acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care.
• Education:
  
  Successful completion of a four‑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.
• Additional KSAs:
  Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems…