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. NOTE: Prior to accepting a final employment offer - all selected applicants will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding deployment responsibilities.

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 Determination: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS-07: The GS-07 grade level is for select - complex LPN/LVN positions - as established by each health care facility
• To be advanced - employees must meet all of the following standards - provided the standard is part of their assignment
• Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-06 level or equivalent - fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-06 LPN/LVN
• The following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs) must be met: Knowledge and skills necessary to care out more specialized patient care duties - including assignments in more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery making astute observations of subtle - less obvious changes (both physical and emotional) in patient's conditions and taking the appropriate action
• Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/OD in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments - accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments and appropriately recording patient's response to medications/treatments received
• Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations
• Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting health lifestyles for more positive 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
• Skill - creativity - and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels
• 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
• Ability to support the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery
• Preferred Experience and Certifications Preferred experience in outpatient Preferred Medical surgical - ambulatory and specialty clinic experience - and surgery experience preferred
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Surgical Clinic experience preferred 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)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The LPN must be able to perform work that requires regular and recurrent walking - bending - lifting 45 pounds or more - stooping - reaching - stretching - and similar activities supporting various weights
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This also includes frequently pushing medication carts - wheelchairs - lifts - and beds
• The LPN must be able to care for Veterans with various medical and psychiatric issues
• At times - these veterans exhibit unpredictable behavior
• The LPN must be able to work closely with others - have sufficient hearing to respond to various alarms - and must be able to communicate verbal and in writing
• He/she will make caring for the veteran his/her priority while in the work setting and demonstrate customer service principles in all aspects of work
• The LPN is subject to exposure to communicable diseases
• The use of personal protective equipment such as - but not limited to - gloves and protective clothing is required
• The LPN will have exposure to biohazard materials and sharps.

Duties

• The LPN - Ambulatory Care GS-7 is under the supervision of the Nurse Manager in Ambulatory Care (Medical Specialty Clinic) - In Nashville - TN. - yet demonstrates independent technical judgment without the need for readily available supervision
• The LPN is technically proficient and self-directed in initiating - performing and completing complex practical nursing care to patients within Surgical Specialty Clinics
• The LPN GS-7 must demonstrate an exceptional degree of practical nursing knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and self-direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing care assignments within the Medical Specialty Clinics for a Veteran population with a variety of health care needs
• The LPN GS-7 exhibits independent technical judgment - critical thinking skills - and the use of independent judgment to carry out complex practices and procedures
• Employees at the GS-7 grade level demonstrate broader and skill with respect to these responsibilities
• The LPN demonstrates knowledge - experience - skill and self-motivation to carry out complex patient assignments - which include prioritization and coordination of clinical activities with minimal supervision
• Specialty Clinic team members have independent duties within team to ensure that the patients are receiving high quality care and have timely access to care
• The LPN collaborates with a Specialty team to provide complex/specialized patient-centered care to patients' ages - cultural backgrounds - education level - and any other special needs
• The panel population is multi-faceted - including geriatric patients - patients from all war-time eras - female patients - and patient with complex psychiatric needs
• Performs direct patient care activities - as appropriate to assignment - (includes - but is not limited to): Manages patient care problems and deviations using self-direction in accordance with VA Nursing Practice and LPN licensure standards
• Assesses - records and reports vital signs - neurological signs - weight - and blood glucose levels
• Appropriately triages and prioritizes patient needs as routine - urgent - or emergent in the clinic setting and modifies patient care/treatment as needed
• Educates and documents patients and caregivers in the home management of wounds
• Checks patient into the clinic - interviews patient and documents data intake as per policy
• Serves as a resource for complex/specialized procedures Performs other duties as assigned VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm (Based on the needs of the service) Pay Schedule: VA25 Functional Statement #: 7156-F Telework: Not Eligible Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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 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)