Summary

The incumbent will practice as a member of the nursing team - demonstrating the knowledge and ability to provide the full range of practical nursing care to residents with a variety of physical and/or behavioral challenges. Will serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients - family members - interdisciplinary team members and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care.

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 IAW VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: LPNs/LVNs appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the NLNAC at the time the program was completed by the applicant
• Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission - 61 Broadway - 33rd Floor - New York - NY 10006
• Additional information may also be obtained from the NLNAC Website
• Licensure: Full - active - current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or District of Columbia
• An LPN/LVN who has or has ever had - any license(s) revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only IAW the provisions in chapter 3 - section B - paragraph 16 of this part
• 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-3: None beyond basic requirements
• Expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g. - medication administration)
• however - completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved
• GS-4: Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria below: 6 months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• OR - Graduation from an approved school and 1 year of experience that involved nursing care work in a hospital - outpatient clinic - nursing home - or other supervised medical - nursing - or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures
• OR - Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• GS-5: Experience: 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN
• Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures
• However - completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review
• Demonstrated KSAs: In addition to the experience and/or education above - must demonstrate all of the following: Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Works with the RN to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery
• Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes - medication - and/or prescribed treatment regimes
• Able to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients - family members - professional and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care - incorporating acceptable - established customer service standards into practice
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare - administer - and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies/procedures
• Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to RN
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated - promptly seek the assistance of the RN and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• GS-6: Experience: 1 year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent
• Demonstrated KSAs: In addition to the experience and/or education above - must demonstrate all of the following: Technically proficient in initiating - performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions
• to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
• and to accurately recognize - report and record relevant patient information
• Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures
• Able to observe - identify and respond to patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment-assisted care and patient/family education
• In organizing and delivering care - recognizes and considers emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic - and age-related factors
• Prepare and administer prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and perform treatments according to established policies/procedures
• Observe for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments - promptly and accurately documenting noted changes - and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO - and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations - and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family members - and other staff
• Establish constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - and to promote positive relationships - communication and socialization skills
• Foster an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery
• Effectively incorporate knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients - family members - and/or other internal/external customers
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures - which include preparing the patient - assisting in the diagnostic examination - preparing and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment - and monitoring the patient's condition before - during - and after the procedure
• Serve as a preceptor in orienting - educating - and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex - specialized tests/procedures
• Actively seek out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: GYN experience 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-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

Duties

• VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Licensed Practical Nurse - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-LPN-Career-Flyer.pdf Work consists of personal nursing care duties - treatments - diagnostic support - recording - patient teaching and rehabilitation
• The work of a Licensed Practical Nurse involves regular and recurring exposure to infection and transmittal diseased and ordinary risks and discomforts requiring incidence of unpredictable - assault behavior - unintentional related to confused - disoriented Veterans and/or patients with psychiatric disorders/history
• Duties may include but are not limited to: Document patient care observation and information according to policy and procedure on appropriate forms
• Follow safe practices and procedures to guard patient and personal safety as well as the safety of other individuals in the Medical Center
• Carrying out patient care based on the Veterans condition and using judgement in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
• Accurately recognize - report - and record relevant patient information
• Perform support duties for complex diagnostic tests and or/specialized practices or procedures - which include preparing the patient - assisting in the diagnostic examination - preparing - and handling specialized instruments - and monitoring the Veterans condition before - during and after procedures
• Establish constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feeling and attitudes - and to promote positive relationships - communication - and socialization skills
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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
• Functional Statement #: 93296-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized