Licensed Practical Nurse

About the role

This job announcement will be used to fill a vacancy on the inpatient Mental Health unit. The Mental Health LPN supports the care in the Residential Rehabilitation and Inpatient Mental Health settings. This position requires flexibility in schedule and assignment as the facility conducts 24/7 operation.

Responsibilities

• Leads groups in the care area to support the recovery and rehabilitation of the Veteran population.
• Provides monitor of the Veteran population as ordered by the provider to include one to one observation when needed.
• Performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, positive customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran.
• Maintains acceptable standards of practice within a health care setting under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse or physician.
• Communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.
• Provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served, and which is appropriate to the cognitive; emotional, and chronological maturation of the patient.
• Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHA guidelines.
• Complies with all mandated annual review requirements, rotate to clinical areas as assigned and take responsibility for attending in-services and continuing education.

Requirements

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:
• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.
• 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.

Qualifications

• GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4: 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 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: 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.
• GS-6: At least one year of additional qualifying experience equivalent to the GS-5 level that has provided you with the following: 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 (RN) or physician (MD/DO) 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/LVN recognizes and considers emotional, socio-economic, and age-related factors.