Advanced Licensed Practical Nurse

This position functions as a member of the healthcare team, demonstrating an exceptional degree of practical nursing knowledge and skills to provide quality nursing care to a culturally diverse veteran population of varying complexity in a variety of settings within the Northeast Wisconsin Ambulatory Care (NEWAC) Division at the Green Bay Health Care Center.

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.

• 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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
• 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. Exceptions include health care education in the military service or training accepted by the licensing body as qualifying for full LPN/LVN licensure.
• 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. (Copy of license required).

Grade Determinations

The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the GS-7 level:

• At least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN, including:
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO in prioritizing overall patient care needs and adjusting care plans.
• Makes astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes (physical and emotional) in patient's condition and documents care delivered and patient's response.
• Seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes requiring higher-level intervention.
• Participates in prioritizing and modifying patient care treatment.
• Observes subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and takes appropriate action.
• Proactively assists RN or MD/DO in addressing patient needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering and recording them.
• Recognizes signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions, informs RN or MD/DO, and initiates prescribed interventions.
• Demonstrates broader knowledge and skill in handling urgent or emergent patient care situations.
• Assists individuals or groups of patients and families in promoting healthy lifestyles for positive outcomes.
• Exercises skill in communicating with difficult-to-care-for patients and family members.
• Contributes to improving care delivery and patient/family satisfaction through participation in committees, research, or educational materials.
• Actively promotes customer service standards in all aspects of practice.
• Serves as a resource for specialized procedures and a mentor to other nursing staff.
• Monitors the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff and reports deviations.
• Performs duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under general supervision, exercising independent technical judgments.
• Actively seeks educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, providing leadership to improve others' practice.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures.
• Supports the team in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff to ensure safe patient care delivery.
• Manages patient care problems and deviations using self-direction in accordance with VA Nursing Practice and LPN licensure standards.
• Assists with diagnostic procedures, including preparing the patient, setting up sterile fields, and monitoring the patient's condition (e.g., joint injections, cystoscopy, vasectomy, prostate needle biopsy).
• Assists in coordination of care during transitions between inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Collaborates with team RN to identify and proactively manage high-risk patients through frequent contacts and visits.
• Responds to telephone calls in a timely manner to address patient care needs and requests from other healthcare facilities.
• Serves as a formal and informal preceptor/mentor for new LPN/HT (and RN when needed) hires in the clinic.

Physical Requirements

This position includes physical duties associated with nursing, such as direct patient care, prolonged periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling.

Benefits

• Pay: Competitive salary with regular increases.
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service.
• Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Child Care Subsidy: Full-time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible costs (monthly maximum of $416.66) after 60 days of employment.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions by VA.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance (many programs can be carried into retirement).

Schedule

Day Shift - Variable Start