Clarification from the agency

This position is only open to current, permanent employees of VA Southern Nevada Health Care (VAMC).

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Duties include but not limited to:

• Assists the interdisciplinary team in the care and treatment of patients receiving medical care for psychiatric or substance abuse treatment, PTSD, and other behavioral health conditions.
• Observes, collects data, documents, and reports to the professional team changes in patient behavior, attitude, physical complaints, appearance, vital signs and/or changes in the patents' condition that may be related to medications, sensory distortions, or medical conditions. Reports reactions to/responses to treatment.
• Maintains a therapeutic and safe milieu by identifying, reporting, and eliminating potential hazards.
• Completes unit rounds and patient safety checks. Completes hazardous items checks of unit, patients, and their belongings.
• Performs one-to-one observations of patients.
• Conducts camera monitoring of unit and patients. Identifies patient at risk for suicide/self.-harm, falls, disruptive behavior etc.
• Intervenes and restrains violent or potentially violent or suicidal Veterans using therapeutic communication or physical means required by PMDB training.
• Provides general clerical administrative support work for the unit.
• Maintains patient records/charts.
• Obtains key information needed to walk-in and initiate medical administrative processing of requests and forms.

Work Schedule: Varies- (12 hour shifts)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:03094-A, 03095-A, 03065-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.
• Experience and/or Education:
  • Experience. I possess six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. OR
  • Education. I have successfully completed two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position. OR
  • Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry
• English Language Proficiency: proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f).

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-04- Experience and/or Education

• Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in subjects related to the position.

GS-05: Experience and/or Education
Experience- One year of experience comparable to the next lower level (GS 04) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. OR
Education- Successful completion of four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation.

GS 06: Experience- Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 05) directly related to the position being filled.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. (a) Knowledge of the incumbent of standardized materials and skills sufficient to perform patient care requiring experience within local policy and Joint Commission regulations that include but not limited to, Preventative and Management of Disruptive Behavior Training Courses (PMDB I, Il, III,) and actively participate 100% in the physical activity component. (b) Knowledge and skill of practical anatomy and physiology, major disease processes, and diagnosis such as various mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance abuse and addictions with the skills to manage therapeutic conversations, containment, and recognize withdraw symptoms. (c) Knowledge and skill on procedures and tests such as EKG machines, AED, vital sign machines, glucometer for blood sugar readings, and urine drug screen tests. (d) Knowledge of secure messaging system, phone systems, Sail metrics, and CPRS and the skill to retrieve, review, and audit data, delegate to appropriate staff, and document in CPRS/patient charts when appropriate. (e) Knowledge of administrative duties that include ROI, patient scheduling, appointments, admissions, triage with the skill to ensure patients have appropriate ROI and scanned appropriately to patient chart, skill of scheduling, ensuring appointments are correct and timely, and the skill to assist nursing with patient triage.

Preferred Experience:

• Active Driver's License
• 1 year experience in related field

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management
• Customer Service
• Human Factors
• Patient Care
• Technical Documentation

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. VA Handbook 5005/143 PART II APPENDIX G70

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-06.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular reoccurring, periods of standing and walking. The duties also require occasional bending and lifting that is 45 pounds or more, reaching, carrying, pushing, stooping, stretching, and similar activities. The incumbent assists in protecting patients' self and other team members from physical harm by hostile and/or confused patients by therapeutically applying physical restraints that may require bending and stretching. The position requires the strength and stamina to perform duties, ability to sit at a desk for long periods of time, look at a computer for long periods of time, walk and stand for 4 hours. Must be able to maintain effective audio, visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading, and writing, and operating office equipment. Must be able to use a telephone to communicate verbally and a keyboard to communicate through written means, to review information and enter/retrieve data, to see and read characters on a computer screen.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.