Career Center

Summary

The Licensed Practical Nurse-CLC Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies. The LPN demonstrates unit/department specific competencies - and competency in caring for adult and geriatric residents. Patients receiving care in the long term care setting - and are being treated for any number of medical and psychological conditions.

Qualifications

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
• 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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency: Licensed practical or vocational nurses 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-3. None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4. Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria in paragraphs (a) through (c) below: (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• or (b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) 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 (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• GS-5. (a)Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• (b) Demonstrated 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 and/or MD/DO 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
• (c) Demonstrated ability 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
• (d) 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
• (e) 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
• (f) Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• (g) Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO
• 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.] GS-6. (a) Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN
• (b) Technically proficient in initiating - performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• (c) 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 (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures
• (d) Ability to observe - identify and respond to the patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment-assisted care and patient/family education
• In organizing and delivering care - the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic - and age-related factors
• (e) Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• Observes 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
• (f) 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
• (g) 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
• (h) Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - and to promote positive relationships - communication and socialization skills
• Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery
• Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients - family members - and/or other internal/external customers
• (i) 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
• Serves 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
• (j) Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 6
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• Duties Include: 1
• Explains procedures to residents - using language which they understand and displaying consideration of individual resident needs
• 2
• Ensures that the physical and emotional environment is consistent with the vision for resident-centered care
• 3
• Maintains self-control and responds consistently to the requirements of the work situation
• 4
• Maintains a positive attitude in accepting temporary reassignment to meet patient care needs
• 5
• Responds to residents' calls for assistance promptly and interacts with the resident in a tactful - courteous manner - making customer service the focus of all interactions
• 6
• Communicates respectfully and works effectively with administrative staff - the health care team - unit staff - residents - and visitors
• 7
• Provides emotional support to residents - and families/significant others to assist them in adjusting to changes brought about by illness or change in health status
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual residents to elicit feelings and attitudes and to promote positive relationships - communication and socialization skills
• Hospice/Palliative care needs are supported as needed based on resident self-determination
• 8
• Fosters an environment of respect for individual residents and family/significant other rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery
• Serves as Veteran's/family/significant others' advocate
• 9
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and self-direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing assignments - including assignments for long-term - short-term rehabilitation - respite - hospice/palliative care - and psychiatric residents requiring skilled nursing care
• 10
• Demonstrates ability to use judgment in selecting the most appropriate application of procedures and guidelines - varying the order and sequence of assigned procedures based on the resident's condition
• Completed work needs only a general review by a RN for technical soundness - appropriateness and conformity with policy and nursing assignments
• 11
• Prepares and administers prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - inhaled medications - controlled substances - and suppositories according to policy and procedure
• Correctly documents medications given or omitted in Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) according to established policy and procedures
• Documents effects of medications
• 12
• Promptly reports untoward patient incidents
• examples medication errors - falls - etc
• to Charge Nurse/Nursing Supervisor - and initiates incident report
• 13
• Appropriately initiates emergency response teams: Rapid Response Team (RRT) - Code Blue - Stroke-Cardiac alerts and responds to emergency situations including cardiopulmonary arrest - choking - and disaster or fire drills
• 14
• Demonstrates practical knowledge of human behavior - motivations and reactions to situations
• Uses this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family and other staff members
• 15
• As an interdisciplinary team member - provides input into the care planning process - assists and provides teaching in activities of daily living (ADLs) to residents and encourages them to participate in ADLs leading to increase independence
• Provides or reinforces resident/family/significant other teaching related to medications - disease process - procedures - and self-care activities
• Considers physical - emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic and age-related factors
• Participates in more complex teaching for resident self-care - such as diabetic care - self-catheterization - etc
• in anticipation of discharge
• 16
• Performs a wide range of treatments and procedures utilizing established nursing care plans and auxiliary equipment according to policy - including but not limited to: application of heat and cold - wound care - changing complex sterile and clean dressings - administering suppositories - cleansing and retention enemas - tube feedings - weights - vital signs - glucose finger sticks - specimen collection - intake and output - colostomy irrigation - oxygen - orthopedic traction - spirometry - nebulizer treatments - and standard 12 lead EKGs - and care of well-established tracheostomies and laryngectomies
• 17
• Performs oropharyngeal - tracheostomy - and tracheal suctioning - and tracheostomy and laryngectomy care
• 18
• Other duties - as assigned
• Work Schedule: Evenings/ Nights Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized