Summary

This announcement is open to: Current - permanent VA Medical Center employees - current permanent VA employees from another facility - and external public applicants. Veteran Preference does not apply to this job announcement per the OCHCO Bulletin: Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• See paragraph 4 - section C
• 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 in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3 - section B - paragraph 16 of this part
• 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)
• 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)
• Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent - fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN listed below: Skills to carry out more specialized patient care duties - including assignments in selected - more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings
• Knowledge base promotes the incorporation of current patient care data in actively contributing to the development of the patient's overall health plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions
• Positions at this grade level require broader knowledge and skills because supervision is more general and employees are expected to be involved to a greater degree in the development and modification of treatment plans
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery
• Makes astute observations of subtle - less obvious changes - both physical and emotional - in patient's condition - and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patient's response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient's care plan
• Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention
• Expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing - and - as appropriate - modifying patient care treatment
• They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations
• Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments - accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and patient's response to medications/treatments received
• (This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions - promptly inform the RN or MD/DO of observed changes in patient's condition and initiate appropriate - prescribed interventions
• Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels
• Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO for appropriate team intervention and effectively intervene - as directed - to assure the continuation of optimal - safe and therapeutic patient care delivery and exercise judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate
• Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes
• Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with patients and/or family members who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control - resistant or abusive behaviors - or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions
• This includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervision
• Exhibits skill - creativity and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces - research projects or in developing educational materials/media
• Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice
• Possesses comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices to serve as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care
• Serves as a role model and mentor to other nursing staff in the application of more complex technology - effectively guiding and directing their continuing practice in these areas
• Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery
• Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO
• In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level - the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff
• Work of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervision
• Individuals in these positions are - to a considerable extent - expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles - art and science of practical nursing
• The staff mix is such that employees at this grade level are expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under very general supervision
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G13
• For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is 7
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is grade 7 .

Duties

• Licensed Practical Nurse - The LPN/LVN GS-7 work is of considerable difficulty and responsibility - and is performed under general supervision
• Individuals in these positions are to a considerable extent - expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles - art - and science of practical nursing
• **Please make sure to include days and months you worked at previous positions and hours per week on your resume/application Duties include - but are not limited to: Responsible for goals and interventions that promote veterans in attaining maximum functional potential - such as ambulation - bowel and bladder training - dressing - grooming - bathing - oral hygiene - range of motion exercises and fall prevention modalities.
• Observing - recording - reporting - changes in the patient's condition - as well as assisting in the development and revision of the patient driven holistic care plan for life
• Demonstrates active collaboration and communication with clinic staff - the patient's family/care giver - internal and community-based services and disciplines involved in providing care to patients
• Makes observations and thoroughly documents care and the patient's response
• Performs - reports - and records assigned nursing care - including but not limited to clinical reminders as indicated - checking expiration dates of medications and supplies - obtaining equipment and assisting with minor procedures - documenting and transporting procedural biological specimens - recognizing urgent or emergent patient care situations - and adhering to principles of infection control - safety - and universal precautions
• Responsible for RME for all scopes and other equipment (stainless steel surgical instruments) specific to their clinic assignment - and for cleaning non-reusable medical equipment between patients per standard operating procedures
• Knowledgeable of program regulations and is able to carry out objectives of the Nursing program within guidelines to meet and maintain program requirements Contributes to the development of the plan of care for assigned veterans outlining program modalities and updates per policy and as changes occur - with general review and co-signature by the RN or MD
• Promotes and demonstrates nursing concepts in the Medical Center
• Works in collaboration with the Registered Nurse (RN) - and or Health Care Provider (HCP)
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - Intramuscular - and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• Takes appropriate actions based upon communications - observations - veteran care reports - provider/staff discussion
• Assists other staff in order to prioritize the overall veteran care needs and adjusts the plan of care as needed
• Is adept at encouraging and communicating with challenging psychological and physical behaviors to promote optimal functioning Demonstrates the knowledge - skills - and ability to perform treatments - procedures and the use and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment appropriate to assigned duties
• Performs assigned nursing care responsibilities requiring the use of equipment - technology - or knowledge in procedures performed in the Urology Clinic
• Provides for supportive care of patients relative to transition from one area of care to another
• Utilizes special equipment such as IV infusion pumps - Doppler units - pulse oximetry - bladder scanner - EKG - point of care testing - computer - and other instruments
• Provides nursing care to assigned outpatients whose care requires close observation during procedures
• Administers intravenous fluids and/or medications according to medical provider orders and established policy
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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) 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 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #92221-APermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized