Nursing Assistant-Mental Health

Summary

The Nursing Assistant provides essential support to licensed nursing staff, delivering direct care to Veterans in inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings. The role includes monitoring patient conditions, assisting with daily activities, performing basic diagnostic tasks, responding to emergencies, and ensuring safe, compassionate, high-quality care for all patients.

Duties

• This position serves as a Nursing Assistant within the Mental Health & Behavioral Science Service (MHBSS) at the VA Tampa Healthcare System. The Nursing Assistant provides direct patient and resident care to Veterans with diverse behavioral, emotional, and psychiatric health needs in inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings. As a key member of the interdisciplinary mental health care team, the Nursing Assistant supports licensed nursing staff in delivering safe, effective, and compassionate care. The role requires skill in observing and reporting behavioral changes, employing trauma-informed communication, assisting with therapeutic interventions, and responding appropriately to emergent situations. Nursing Assistants promote patient safety, dignity, stabilization, and recovery while supporting the VA's mission of providing high-quality mental health care to Veterans. This position includes but is not limited to the following responsibilities: Provides direct patient/resident care and assists in implementing the nursing care plan to support recovery, safety, and comfort. Observes and documents changes in patients' physical or emotional condition and promptly reports deviations or concerns to the supervising nurse. Utilizes approved equipment, materials, and supplies when performing basic diagnostic and treatment procedures (e.g., bladder scan, blood glucose monitoring, specimen collection). Communicates effectively and professionally with patients/residents, families, and members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Assists licensed nursing staff in the full range of nursing care for patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral health needs in hospital, long-term care, and outpatient settings. Functions as a preceptor to new Nursing Assistants by guiding orientation, evaluating practical skills, and supporting competency development in clinical areas. Recognizes and responds appropriately to emergent patient care situations, including initiating basic life support, controlling bleeding, and assisting during behavioral crises. Work Schedule: 0730-1600, with variable scheduling based on unit needs Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 70621F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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, Education or Training: Must meet one of the following: Six months of general experience demonstrating the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the duties of a Nursing Assistant; OR One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related training program of less than one year as a NA. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d). 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-03 (Entry Level): Experience/Education: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignments: Entry-level; closely supervised. GS-04 (Intermediate Level): Experience: One year of specialized experience as a NA or in another medical field (LPN, health technician, hospital corpsman, etc.) requiring knowledge of human physical/emotional states, therapeutic communication, and technical nursing skills; OR Education: Successful completion of two years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care, health care, or a related field appropriate to the NA specialization. You must also demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to nursing care plans. Ability to observe and report physical/emotional status changes. Ability to properly use equipment/materials for simple diagnostic and treatment procedures. Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and health professionals. GS-05 (Full Performance Level): Experience: One year of progressively responsible assignments equivalent to GS-04 demonstrating knowledge, skills, and abilities directly related to the NA assignment; OR Education: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours in health care-related courses (or possession of a bachelor's degree). You must also demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care for patients with physical and/or behavioral problems in hospital, long-term care, or outpatient settings. Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, and interdisciplinary teams, including serving as a preceptor. Ability to recognize and react to emergent care situations and intervene appropriately (e.g., basic life support, controlling bleeding, behavioral crisis response). Preferred Experience: Experience providing care in Mental Health & Behavioral Health settings. Experience using therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and trauma-informed care. Prior experience as a Nursing Assistant or similar role in hospital, long-term care, or outpatient environments. Experience responding to behavioral emergencies or assisting in crisis situations. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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 requires regular and recurring physical exertion, including but not limited to: Standing and walking for extended periods. Repeated bending, stooping, stretching, and lifting/carrying items weighing 45 pounds or more. Reaching above the shoulder, pushing, and pulling. Use of both hands and fingers for clinical tasks and equipment operation. Adequate vision (near and far) correctable; ability to distinguish basic colors and shades. Adequate hearing to communicate and perform patient assessments. Emotional and mental stability to respond appropriately to stressful or emergent situations.

Requirements

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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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. 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.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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 09/18/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13013980. 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.