Nursing Assistant - Mental Health

Nursing Assistant For The Mental Health Team

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Nursing Assistant for the Mental Health Team at the Buffalo, NY VA Medical Center. The Mental Health NA will care for patients / residents with acute to chronic conditions. Duties include, but are not limited to : utilizing glucose monitoring machines to receive glucose readings for veterans, referring deviations to appropriate health care staff; providing direct care for complex veterans; making observations of subtle changes in resident's condition, i.e. behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc. and taking action accordingly within the NAs assigned role; documenting care given, observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms; responding appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personnel; administering complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning; monitoring and documenting patient intake and output; performing nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran; working on small group activities with veterans / residents according to the patients / resident treatment plan; actively participating in Treatment Planning Meetings; utilizing equipment to promote the veteran self-care, such as lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and Veteran / Resident Wandering System; verbally providing patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran / residents plan of care, participating in treatment team meetings for resident care planning; entering information about the residents condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats; participating in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient / resident; removing defective equipment, reporting hazards, observing safety regulations, contributing to infection control, and utilizing proper aseptic technique in performance of duties; serving as the unit safe patient handling liaison; orienting members of the health care team to the units as appropriate; managing distributed patient behavior and by appropriately intervening and requesting assistance from other health care members; appropriately initiating basic life support, taking actions appropriate action.

Work Schedule : Full-time, 12-hour night shifts, 7 : 30pm-8 : 00am with one (1) 8-hour shift, 12 : 00am-8 : 00am per pay period.

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements 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. 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.

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 : Must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Experience, Education, or Training : Six months of general experience. (Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of an NA); OR one year above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year which resulted in attaining certification as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.

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

GS-3 : None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 : One year of specialized experience as a nursing assistant or experience in another medical field (LPN, 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 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) : In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs

1. Ability to provide a range of patient / resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients / residents.

2. Ability to observe patients / residents or resident's physical or emotional status of refer deviations and / or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.

3. 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.

4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients / residents, their families and other health professionals.

GS-5 : 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 below; OR 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) : In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs

1. 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 Vocation Nurse / Licensed Practical Nurse.

2. Ability to communicate orally with patients / residents, families, interdisciplinary team and other personnel. This includes serving as a preceptor to new nursing assistants by assisting with coordination of their orientation and overseeing / assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting.

3. 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.

Preferred Experience : Mental Health experience 1-2 years of nursing assistant experience