Career Center

Summary

LPN works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Primarily responsible for patient and clinic flow - efficiency of the clinic - customer service - and teamwork. The LPN develops/maintains effective and efficient communication with the patient - interdisciplinary team - VA medical centers - and other agencies.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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 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 licensure will be accepted as meeting the education requirements Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school 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 who has or has ever had - any license 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
• 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
• LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license
• GS-4. Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet criteria below: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN
• OR Graduation from 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 Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration GS-5. Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent AND 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 and/or to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs and/or Nursing Assistants /Health Technicians 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 or MD
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated - promptly seek the assistance of the RN - and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and 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 or MD
• Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures
• GS-6. Completion of at least 1 year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN AND 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 or physician 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 recognizes and considers emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic - and age-related factors Prepares and administers prescribed medications 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 Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN or MD - and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed 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 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 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
• Preferred Experience: 1 year in a primary care or internal medicine clinic experience
• Reference: Former VA Handbook Reference: Part II Appendix G13 Effective Date: APRIL 10 - 2003 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 continued in Education section.

Duties

• vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-LPN-Career-Flyer.pdf Functions of Assigned Duties Work with Veterans and their families during times of emergent and non-emergent times
• In this position the LPN is more than likely assigned to a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) and is responsible for assisting with panel management for his/her PACT - and other duties as assigned by supervisor or per the daily schedule
• Some primary roles in this capacity: assist providers with clinic visits - exams - and procedures
• administer medication - process clinical reminders - review and process alerts
• provide education within scope of practice
• keep Veteran informed during visit and provide needed updates - assist with walk-in patients as schedule allows
• daily cleaning and stocking of rooms
• review secure messages - FAXCOM - and CMT tasks
• provide SBAR communication
• and assist in scrubbing the schedule
• This LPN position has the potential to cross- train to other departments in the VA to help better fulfill the mission of caring for our Veterans - and to be able to fill in for other departments during times of absences and low staffing as indicated by their supervisor/management
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on patient's condition
• With minimal supervision - plans and carries out assignments following VHA directives and local Numbered Memoranda
• Provides appropriate patient and family education regarding disease condition - procedures - tests - and health maintenance
• Observes and appropriately responds to subtle changes in patient's behavior by providing emotional/physical support/intervention to prevent a problem
• Uses the 6 Rights of Medication Administration - including the use of two patient identifiers
• Participates in Medication Reconciliation by reviewing with patient/care giver medication list - annotate changes on the list for PCP's review - enter non-VA meds in CPRS
• Provides ambulatory nursing care to patients with acute and chronic healthcare needs - including responding to triages as appropriate
• Responds to medical emergencies such as \"medical urgencies\" and nursing alerts as appropriate
• Work Schedule: Monday Thru Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Available
• 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.