Summary

This position serves as the Mental Health Technician that provides technical - patient care - personnel - computer - and data management support services for the Nursing. Mental Health Service at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS). There is a 2-page requirement for resumes. See Additional Instructions below.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists - speech pathologists - medical officers - and optometrists. Therefore - technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-5) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of creditable specialized experience includes but is not limited to: assisting 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 - changes in the patents' condition that may be related to medications/withdrawal symptoms - sensory distortions - or medical conditions. Ability to perform vital signs - collect and label specimens for the laboratory. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Customer Service Human Factors Patient Care Technical Documentation 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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.

Duties

• Duties include but are 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 Mental Health Technician 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: 12 hours shifts - days/nights Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• PD#: 593-03065A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized