Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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: 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)
• Licensure: Must possess a 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
• 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
• 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
• TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED
• 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
• VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 - enacted November 21 - 1983 - and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 - enacted October 28 - 1986
• and for their future personnel actions under this authority
• The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions
• Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• See paragraph 4 - section C
• 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-03 Level: None beyond the basic requirements
• LPNs at this grade level are 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 Level: At least six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• At this level LPN/LVNs are expected to exercise greater judgment - require less supervision - and to operate in accordance with all established policies - procedure - and techniques
• OR Graduate of 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 Graduate from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• GS-5 Level: At least one year of qualifying experience equivalent to the GS-4 level under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO that has provided you with the following: 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 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
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to serve as a responsible member of a nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients - family members - professional and/or other support personnel involved in the delivery of patient care and 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
• This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting noted changes in the patient's condition
• 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
• Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• ** See the Additional Information Section for GS-06 grade level determinations**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-GS-06
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.

Duties

• VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Adheres to VA and Nursing Service policies - procedures - and standards
• Delivers care to patients in a respectful non-judgmental manner and according to the Patient Care Plan
• Maintains patient/ client privacy
• Sets limits within nurse/ patient relationships which are clearly defined
• Demonstrates understanding of age- and population - specific characteristics that affect the health care needs of the Veteran
• Performs aspects of admission/discharge procedures - as directed
• Collects patient data including observations of patient status
• Accurately reports patient/client information
• Recognizes subtle and significant changes in the patient in Communicates subtle changes in patient condition/response to nursing care
• Promptly recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations - seeks assistance and effectively intervenes as directed when appropriate
• Accurately retrieves and documents patient/ clinical information including reassessment data - using CPRS
• Organizes/ prioritizes routine and non-routine nursing care activities
• Provides care to patients/clients appropriate to their cognitive - physical - emotional and chronological maturation
• Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes - medications - and/or prescribed diagnostic and/or treatment regimes - as directed
• (e.g
• health promotion - dx
• tests)
• Adheres to standards of practice and safe technique in preparation and administration of medicine
• Observes patient for adverse effects from medication and reports to the team RN
• Safely provides nursing care: (1) Administers medications according to the 5 Rights
• (2) Transcribes MD Orders - and RN validates
• (3) Conducts 24 hour chart checks
• (4) Monitors/reports/participates in selected aspects of (5) Intravenous therapy/parental nutrition
• (a) flow rate (b) site appearance (c) system integrity (d) venous access site care (e) discontinues intravenous access devices (does not include right atrial catheters - ports - or PICC's) (f) flushes IV lines with normal saline solution (g) administers commercially prepared IV solutions (h) safely operates mechanical infusers (i) documents all aspect of care related to delivery of IV therapy
• Administers a variety of pain control measures and records results
• Appropriately uses protective and restraining devices
• Performs wound care including dressing changes - irrigations - and drains (Jackson-Pratt - Penrose - Hemovac - and T-tubes)
• Administers respiratory therapies
• Incentive spirometry
• Inhalers - MDI - Maxi-mist - Pulmonade
• Oxygen (cannula/prongs/masks/Venti-mask)
• Performs oral/pharyngeal suctioning
• Performs tracheostomy care
• Monitors gastric/intestinal drainage and feeding tubes
• Manages feeding tube - including checking for residual
• Implements use of urinary drainage devices and related care
• (1) Condom catheter
• (2) Intermittent catheter
• (3) Foley catheter (4) Urostomy
• (5) CBI
• (6) Suprapubic catheter
• (7) Urethral stents
• Recovers sedated patients as assigned
• Assesses skin and records as appropriate Braden score
• Performs actions targeted to the maintenance and/or restoration of skin integrity
• Applies pneumatic - sequential - compression devices
• Performs ostomy care
• Performs graft site care
• Performs neuro checks
• ??Work Schedule: 7:30am-8:00pm OR 7:30am- 4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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 Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized