Licensed Practical Nurse (Geriatrics and Extended Care)

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates proficiency in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties while providing care to diverse patient populations.
• Comprehensive understanding of disease conditions, nursing principals, standards, and practices to be able to coordinate the nursing care required on the unit, and to alter the sequence and/or care delivered to meet individual patient's needs and provide oversight to less experienced LPNs, Nursing Assistants and Health Technicians.
• Maintains knowledge and ability to carry out patient care determined by the patient's condition utilizing judgement in selecting appropriate orders, procedures, and treatments; and recognizing, reporting, and recording relevant patient information to include urgent and emergent situations.
• Observes, identifies, and responds to patient needs for medication, medical equipment, and patient/family education while considering emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic and age related factors.
• Maintains knowledge and skill 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.
• Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, and training less experienced LPNs, Nursing Assistants (NA's), Health Technicians (HT's) and provides support for more complex, specialized procedures.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge/skills and shares knowledge with peers to advance nursing practice.
• Performs unit charge duties with assistance from the area/supervising RN or Nurse Officer of the Day (NOD).

Requirements

• Knowledge of standard precautions, medical asepsis, and sterile technique with ability to correctly apply these principles and techniques to a variety of patient care situations and to assist others to do so.
• Demonstrates flexibility by willing and promptly accepting changes in work assignment and locations including charge duties.

Benefits

• Work Schedule: Multiple tours including evening and/or days, weekends with rotation. (0000-0800, 0730-1600, 1530-2400). Additional tours may be discussed more during the interview process.
• Note: The first 6-8 weeks will require the selection to work 7:30am-4pm before moving to selected tour of duty

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 (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Schedule

• Work Schedule: Multiple tours including evening and/or days, weekends with rotation. (0000-0800, 0730-1600, 1530-2400). Additional tours may be discussed more during the interview process.
• Note: The first 6-8 weeks will require the selection to work 7:30am-4pm before moving to selected tour of duty

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.
• 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.
• 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).
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.