Nursing Assistant (Psychiatric Acute Care Center)

Nursing Assistant (Psychiatric Acute Care Center)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Durham, North Carolina

Salary Range: $38304 - $62538 Per Year

Job Summary: The Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care.

Major Duties:

• The Psychiatric Acute Care Center (PARC) is a 28 bed inpatient adult male/female psychiatric unit that provides patient care to patients with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses. The major diagnosis reasons for admission include the following: psychoses, substance abuse and dependence disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), organic disorders and neuroses. Patients are provided therapeutic modalities, to include electro-convulsive (ECT) therapy and rehabilitative services that include group therapy or education, one-to-one education and/or counseling and medication management. The interdisciplinary team meets each week to discuss care planning and discharge needs of patients. Allied health team providers provide psychological testing and counseling, social services, vocational counseling, and recreational therapy. The nursing needs of patients are evaluated using the nursing process and care is individualized through interdisciplinary approaches of care. Care is focused on providing a protective environment for those requiring protection from self-injury and/or injury to others resulting from identified diagnoses and psychiatric illnesses. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing assistants provide nursing care. Major Duties and Responsibilities to include but are not limited to: Providing patient care such as feeding, bathing, dressing, positioning, and transferring. Obtaining vital signs and capillary blood glucose results. Applying creams, lotions, and administering other approved medications under the supervision of the nurse. Maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment through engaging patients in meaningful activities, monitoring and intervening in behaviors, de-escalating patient behaviors, and intervening with patients experiencing extremes of behavior, including the severely depressed, suicidal or homicidal patients and the drug or alcohol abuse patients. Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran for such procedures but not limited to enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressing, application of braces and prosthetic devices, record intake and output. Works on small group activities with patients/residents according to the patients/resident treatment plan. Verbally provides patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran/residents' plan of care, participates in treatment team meetings for resident care planning. Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats. Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient/resident. Work Schedule: 1530-2400 with rotating weekends. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Telework: Not Available

Qualifications: Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) Experience or 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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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 Requirements: In addition to the basic requirements, you must meet the following grade requirements. GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements GS-04 Nursing Assistant 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, 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: 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. GS-05 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level) 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, 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 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 Preferred Qualifications: Prior VA Experience Inpatient Mental Health and Medical/Surgical Experience 1-2years Preferred Level of 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 Preferred Certification(s) CNA I or II Psychiatric Tech NA Certified References: VA Handbook 5005/141 Part II Appendix G46. Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard GS-0621. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05. Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nursing assistants such as direct patient care, and potentially long periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. See VA Handbook 5019 and local NA physical standards. Examples may include but are not limited to: - Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients - Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 03/26/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12909204. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-26