Summary

The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Licensed Vocational Nurse/Practical Nurse (LVN/LPN) have a broad degree of practical nursing knowledge and skills. The LVN/LPN will care for adults psychiatric - medical - and geriatric patients at the South Santa Rosa VA Clinic. The LPN/LVN perform assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care - positive customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Education - Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) at the time the program was completed by the applicant
• Exceptions include health care education in the military service or training in the military service which is accepted by the licensing body in the jurisdiction in which the individual is licensed as qualifying for full LPN/LVN licensure will be accepted as meeting the education requirements for VHA employment OR granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVN
• Licensure - Active - full - current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - of the United States or the District of Columbia
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS 3: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS 4: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN/LVN OR Graduation from an approved school and one 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 in duration
• AND LVN/LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-3 grade level
• GS 5: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• AND Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact with patients - family members - professional and supportive personnel patient care
• 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 and procedures
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated - promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO - and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO
• GS 6: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent
• AND 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 and to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
• Ability to observe - identify and respond to the patient's needs for medication - equipment-assisted care and patient/family education
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• 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
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - and to promote positive relationships - communication and socialization skills
• 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 following the procedure
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• Preferred Experience and Certifications 2 years of LVN experience
• Salary for this position ranges dependent upon applicant qualifications GS-03: $57 -611-$74 -886 annually GS-04: $64 -670-$84 -080 annually GS-05: $72 -353-$94 -051 annually GS-06: $78 -734-$102 -350 annually The full performance level of this vacancy is 6
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 3- 6
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The population of male and female patients served ranges from the adult - age 18 - to the elderly adult - age 65 and over
• The San Francisco VA Health Care System is a health care facility - providing acute medical - surgical - behavioral health - physical medicine and rehabilitation - geriatric - and primary care services predominately to veterans - but in special cases - includes active duty military and civilian populations
• This position requires visual acuity (Correctable to 20/40) - hearing clear distinctive speech (correctable to 20db) - and manual dexterity to perform prescribed procedures/computer usage
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or during patient operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - and is able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Duties

• **This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until August 26 - 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be July 10 - 2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks
• Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available
• **This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment
• Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact susan.bringel@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Duties and responsibilities of the LVN/LPN include: Performs basic nursing procedures such as vital signs - treatments - and specimen collection in accordance with nursing policies and procedures
• Is an integral part of the health care team functioning under the guidance - supervision and direction of the Registered Nurse (RN) completing nursing procedures as assigned by the RN or Nurse Manager
• Uses guidelines or receives direction in selecting the most appropriate application of procedures and guidelines
• Demonstrates competence in placing orders per policy
• Makes observations and thoroughly documents care and the patient's response
• Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or Provider of changes in the patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention
• Performs - reports - and records assigned nursing care - including - but not limited to: Oxygen therapy - clinical reminders with appropriate consults and alerts as indicated
• checks expiration dates of meds and supplies
• delegated procedures and treatments
• Assists with minor procedures - including obtaining and arranging necessary equipment - positioning patient - ensuring comfort and privacy
• Monitors patient during the procedure
• Adheres to standards of practice and safe technique in preparation and administration of medication - vaccinations - and skin tests
• Appropriately documents in the medical record
• Demonstrates understanding of age- and population-specific characteristics that affect the health care needs of the Veteran
• Based on the patient's goals - provides patient and family health education - to include self- management - prevention - and wellness
• Adheres to principles of infection control - safety - and universal precautions
• Demonstrates competence utilizing special equipment needed to perform job duties
• Obtains electrocardiograms on patients as assigned reporting readings to the RN and/or Provider according to unit level procedures
• Completes finger stick blood glucose testing on patients as appropriate and other point of care testing and completes mandatory competency reviews
• Follows policy and procedures related to fire and disaster drills - safety - and security measures
• Maintains confidentiality of electronic - written - and/or verbal patient information
• Maintains a work environment that honors diversity
• Protects patient and family rights
• Completes clinical competency reviews and mandatory reviews as scheduled
• Supports patient-driven care in a safe - efficient - and cost-effective manner
• Promotes patient and personnel safety by recognizing and reporting potential risk factors in the clinical environment
• Implements plan of care for patients considering physical - emotional - and social factors
• Contributes to the assessment and reassessment of patients - and documents relevant information in the medical record
• Reports significant changes in patient's condition to the RN and/or Provider
• Takes secure electronic messages and telephone messages - as assigned - and resolves or forwards them to the appropriate personnel
• Responds directly to messages within scope and level of knowledge
• Differentiates between those complex problems that require assistance of the RN or Provider and obtain appropriate guidance
• Demonstrates adherence to and competence of Nursing Standard Operating Procedures - Medical Center Memoranda - and National Directives
• Must be proficient and demonstrate competency and the ability to either set up or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment as applicable for all equipment for which They has been trained
• Uses the computer system in accordance with local - VISN and national VHA policies
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8am-4:30pm Telework: Available at the discretion of the Nurse Manager Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized