Psychiatric Nursing Assistant

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

The public

U. S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U. S.

Clarification from the agency

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

Duties

• Assist and participate in the planning and evaluation of patient needs and in providing a safe and therapeutic environment.

• Conduct group and individual practical counseling and education for clients with psychological conditions under the direct supervision of a licensed registered nurse.

• Provide practical, short-term, supportive counseling services for assigned clients with varying degrees of severity.

• Perform evaluations and counseling to improve the ability of clients to become more adaptive and functional in work, home life, and social roles.

• Work with a high degree of independence in planning, developing, and adapting standard and nonstandard nursing treatment plans based on interview data, observations, reports of others, review of records, and physical and mental status of the client.

• Process patients for admission by searching belongings for contraband, obtaining inpatient/outpatient records, preparing patient charts with proper forms, and assigning beds.

• Identify and meet needs of patients for activities of daily living, involvement in activities, understanding of illness, and discharge planning.

• Perform crisis stabilization for agitated, disoriented, and combative high-risk patients.

• Perform a variety of technical, administrative, and clerical duties.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.

• This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.

• The duties of this position meet the criteria for compliance with Federal and Department of the Army Drug Free Workplace Programs. Detection of the presence of drugs is warranted.

• This position has been designated "Mission Essential". In the event of severe weather conditions or other such emergency type situations the incumbent is required to report to work or remain at work as scheduled to support mission operations.

• This position has a requirement to lift up to 50 lbs. in the regular performance of duties.

• Appointment to this position is subject to a one year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 11.

• This position requires incumbent to obtain and maintain Basic Life Support training certification from, or in accordance with, the American Heart Association and American Red Cross.

• Employees assigned to a medical treatment facility are required to be screened for applicable immunizations or pre-existing immunity based on occupational risk, regardless of job series.

• This position has a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination requirement and is subject to annual vaccination.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Specialized

Experience

One year of specialized experience which includes 1) Providing assistance to patients with psychological or psychiatric conditions; 2) Assisting medical personnel with psychiatric diagnosis and treatment plans; and 3) Performing administrative tasks. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).

OR

Education

Four year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree.

OR

Combination of Education and

Experience

A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education beyond two years (total semester hours minus 60) by 60. Add the two percentages.

Education

Foreign

Education

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U. S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U. S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U. S. Department of Education websites.

Education above high school level completed in a college, university, or other educational institution must be accredited by one of the accrediting agencies or associations recognized by the Secretary, U. S. Department of Education.

When using education to qualify you must submit your transcripts.

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.

• You will be required to provide proof of U. S. Citizenship.

• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.

• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.

• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.

• Recruitment or relocation incentives MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.

• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.

• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.

• For positions located in Alaska and Hawaii, statutory return rights for current DoD employees are applicable in many circumstances.

• Federal employees in Hawaii are currently entitled to receive a 8.64% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in addition to the base salary. This is subject to change.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U. S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.

Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements.

As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

• Your resume:

• Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.

• For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.

• Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume.

• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.

• For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.

• Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional

• Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable

• This position has an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience. If you meet this requirement based on education you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses.

NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents…