Nursing Assistant- Inpatient Mental Health

At the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Nursing Assistants play a vital role in supporting compassionate, recovery-oriented care for Veterans. In this dynamic inpatient mental health setting, you will help ensure safety, dignity, and meaningful engagement while working as part of a mission-driven team dedicated to those who served.

In this inpatient mental health environment, you will provide hands-on, recovery-focused support that helps Veterans navigate daily care needs and maintain autonomy. You will collaborate closely with the care team, observe and report changes in condition, uphold safety and infection control standards, and contribute to a therapeutic, patient-centered milieu. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides and documents direct care, including vital signs, oral care, intake and output, belongings inventory, and one-to-one observation. Facilitates small group activities and meetings to support recovery-oriented care. Performs procedures within scope, including skin care, simple dressings, topical cream application, and specimen collection. Observes and reports subtle behavioral, mood, and physical changes to the Registered Nurse (RN). Promotes Veteran autonomy through limit-setting and individualized treatment approaches. Participates in Mental Health Environment of Care Rounds, Environmental Safety Rounds, and Patient Safety Rounds. Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, and follows all safety and infection control practices. Utilizes proper aseptic technique and adheres to emergency preparedness and building security procedures. Serves as a preceptor and mentor to other Nursing Assistants and orients healthcare team members to the unit. Manages disruptive patient behavior using appropriate interventions and seeks team support when needed Work Schedule: Sunday-Saturday, 8 or 12 hour shifts. Rotating holidays and weekends required. Work is scheduled between 7:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m., or 11:30 p.m.- 7:30 a.m. Additional Pay: Shift Differential - 10% of basic pay for work performed during regularly scheduled hours between 6pm and 6am. Weekend Premium - 25% of basic pay for work performed between the hours of midnight Friday and midnight Sunday. This includes continuous service connected to work performed during these hours. Holiday Pay - 2 times basic hourly rate for regularly scheduled, non-overtime work on a designated holiday. Compressed/Flexible: Available Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Physical requirements: This position requires some degree of fitness, strength, and agility. Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, pulling, lifting arm overhead, and similar activities. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Sioux Falls is part of the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23). The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

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. You may be required to serve a trial period. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination or evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required. Training provided. 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. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.