Nursing Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs

The Acute Mental Health Inpatient Nursing Assistant (NA) for Units Birch, Cypress, and Douglas functions as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. Performs activities of daily living and provides a range of care that contributes to the Veteran's treatment plan, recovery, and wellness under the direction of a licensed health care provider.

• Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides care for patients with a variety of physical and/or behavior problems. Recognizes and addresses bio-psychosocial and age-specific concerns of patients. Recognizes signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness and responds appropriately. Assists in carrying out communication techniques that will be most therapeutic for any patient or group of patients. Performs basic nursing treatments such as personal care, assistance with ADLs, vital signs, blood glucose monitoring, assigned treatments and specimen collection within established hospital policy and procedure. Documents findings in the patient's CPRS record. Recognizes abnormalities and reports to the registered nurse. Assists with the completion of technical procedures such as electrocardiograms, respiratory treatments, and blood glucose finger stick monitoring. Functions proactively to prevent potential medical and psychiatric emergencies. Responds to actual and/or potential medical and psychiatric emergencies. Manages aggressive behavior. Employs alternative measures to physical restraints. Provides Close Observation to patient while in restraint. Communicate with the patient during restraint period. Knowledgeable in documenting patient behavior and intervention provided in restraint flow sheet. Assists during release from restraint. Participates in rehash and debriefing following restraint episode. Acts when patients demonstrate high-risk behaviors or suicidal or self-destructive impulses. Notify the registered nurse immediately of any perceived risk. Maintains the standard procedure when supervising patients off the ward, escorting them directly to appointments and/or to appropriate activities. remains with the patient always. Immediately reports abnormal situations to the registered nurse and seeks VA police assistance immediately as needed. Ensuring no hazardous items is brought by patients to the unit at the time of admission and by visitors during visitations. Observes and reports any change in patient behavior, mental or physical condition. Electronically documents pertinent findings in the patient record (CPRS). Provides basic instruction and VA approved educational materials to patients and families regarding coping with a disease. This patient teaching can be conducted individually or in a group setting. Reports hazardous situations and alerts personnel. Take immediate corrective action to resolve unsafe conditions Completes annual mandatory education review, competency checklists and other required educational activities for the Health Care System and Mental Health Nursing. Proficient in the use of the electronic medical record and VAPA web such as accessing of information and entering data when appropriate. Demonstrates knowledge of VA policies, procedures, and assists with basic life safety and unit orientation of new staff members. Maintain up-to-date PMDB training to effectively prevent and manage disruptive behaviors, taking a proactive role in monitoring their compliance Verbalize MHEOCC findings that present ligature risk on the unit and able to discuss mitigation strategies. Ensuring performing walkthrough during the change of the shift and ensuring proper endorsement was given to incoming NA by off going NA. Perform patient and environmental rounds per hospital policy and procedure to ensure patient safety. Gives attention to cognitive status and the potential for elopement, withdrawal or intrusion, or potential for danger to self or others. Documents appropriately patient and environmental rounds in timely manner. When assigned to close observation, patients always maintain within eye contact and ensure patients do not have items that can be used for self-harm. Provides verbal hand-offs to the relief person regarding the status of the patient. Documents observed patient behaviors every 15 minutes on flow sheet. When providing CO observation to patients on SP (Suicidal patients), always maintain arm length distance even when patient is in the bathroom. For Direct Line of sight 1 staff can monitor 2 or more patients at time per Mental Health level of observation SOP 118-25-2. The Inpatient Mental Health NA has successfully completed comprehensive training in PMDB Therapeutic Containment, including hands-on training. The employee is fully trained to immediately implement patient containment safety procedures and can effectively apply all learning from all levels of PMDB training, including de-escalation techniques, into practice. The Inpatient Mental Health Nurse performs all duties as assigned by Supervisor. Work Schedule: PM, Monday - Friday, 3:30pm - 12:00am, Rotating Weekends and Holidays Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD09802F, PD09803F, and PD09804F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

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