Summary

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) are technically proficient in initiating - performing - and completing a broad range of practical nursing care assignments to acutely and chronically ill patients with medical and psychiatric illnesses that usually change within a predicable range within the Sheridan VAHCS. Provides direct patient care in the outpatient clinic setting under the direction of a physician - mid-level provider (APRN or physician assistant) - or a Registered Nurse.

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
• Grade Determinations: GS-3 Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 Experience/Education: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVNOR - 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 Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• GS-5 Experience: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 - NP - and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs)/Intermediate Care Technicians (ICTs) 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
• 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
• 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
• Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to RN - NP - or MD/DO
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated - promptly seek the assistance of the RN - NP - 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 - NP - 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 Experience: 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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) - Nurse Practitioner (NP) - or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures
• 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
• 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 - NP - or MD/DO
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN - NP - 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
• 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
• 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/ICTs related to support duties for these more complex - specialized tests/procedures
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/3 PART II APPENDIXG13 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 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: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• 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 don protective clothing in isolation situations or 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 - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Clinical Responsibilities may include but are not limited to: Accurately collects - reports - and records appropriate patient care data to contribute to the nursing assessment
• Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team
• understands patients' biopsychosocial needs for the purpose of providing care and input to treatment plans
• Identifies and reports signs and symptoms of deviation from normal health status and changes in patient condition
• Is able to identify potential suicide risks in patients and reports to RN or provider
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications in accordance with established policy and procedure and observes - reports - and documents patients' response to medications
• Establishes effective and therapeutic relations with and proves nursing care to acute and chronically ill patients with both medical and mental health conditions
• Recognizes expected outcomes of interventions and reports - records - and exchanges information with members of the treatment team
• Reinforces and reiterates instructions previously presented by a Registered Nurse or providers
• Promotes environmental safety - security - and patient confidentiality
• Recognizes and reports unsafe equipment or situations and follows policy and procedure to assure personal and patient safety during patient care activities
• Maintains therapeutic interpersonal relationships with patients and co-workers
• Participate in and adapt to an ever- changing health care environment
• Conducts reassessments and inspections according to policy - such as skin - pain fall and PRN - without waiting for RN to direct
• Performs procedures in the outpatient clinic setting within the scope of practice of a LPN such as simple spirometry - home oxygen certification - and vaccine administration
• May perform phlebotomy functions if appropriately qualified to do so
• Serves as a resource for lower grade LPNs
• Administrative Responsibilities Enters specific information into the patient's electronic record using appropriate formats - medical terminology - and templates
• This information must be entered in a complete - confidential - and professional manner to ensure information on the patient is shared with other VA staff
• This information is to be reviewed on a regular basis
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees - volunteers - consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies
• Attendance of all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings - other committees as appropriate - etc.) is necessary
• Identifies process and quality improvement opportunities and contributes to changes in processes through data collection
• Additional duties may be required to be performed - as needed
• Schedule: This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments as this is a 24/7 medical center
• Some positions require rotation of tours or indefinite work on non-administrative tours as established by the immediate supervisor
• Incumbent may be asked to travel to cover in other areas or clinics and must possess and maintain a valid state issued drivers license
• Self-motivated in the pursuit of meeting professional work standards
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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 #: 59890-A