Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN)

Summary This Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) position is in the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System - Nursing Service - Outpatient Primary Care - physically located in Baton Rouge - Louisiana. The LPN/LVN provides technically proficient - patient-centered nursing care under the supervision and direction of a registered nurse (RN) or medical provider - supporting safe - efficient clinical operations and contributing to high-quality care within the healthcare team. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEducation: 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 applicantExceptions 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 employmentOR Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who were converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 - enacted November 21 - 1983 - or were converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 - enacted October 28 - 1986OR Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved schoolLicensure - 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 ColumbiaEnglish Language ProficiencyLicensed 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)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)Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each gradeThe candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the gradeGS-03 - None beyond the basic requirementsLPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g. - medication administration)however - completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involvedGS-04 - Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-04 if they meet any of the following criteria in addition to the basic requirements: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVNor 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 proceduresor Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months durationLPNs at the GS-04 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-03 grade levelhowever - they are expected to exercise greater judgment - require less supervision - and to operate in accordance with all established policies - procedure - and techniquesGS-05 - Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalentDemonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problemsWorks with the RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care deliveryProvides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes - medication - and /or prescribed treatment regimesDemonstrated 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 practiceKnowledge 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 proceduresObservation 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/DOKnowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated - promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrestRecognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective actionCompleted work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DOIndividuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing proceduresHowever - completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level reviewGS-06 - Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVNTechnically proficient in initiating - performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populationsKnowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditionsto use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatmentsand to accurately recognize - report and record relevant patient informationCompleted work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/proceduresAbility to observe - identify - and respond to a patient's needs for care including medication - equipment-assisted care - and patient/family educationIn organizing and delivering care - the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional - socio-economic - and age-related factorsPrepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/proceduresObserves 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/DOKnowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO - and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directedKnowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations - and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family members - and other staffEstablishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - and to promote positive relationships - communication and socialization skillsFosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care deliveryEffectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients - family members - and - or other internal/external customersContinued in Education Section Duties Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional The Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) demonstrates the knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out patient care based on the patients' conditionsThe duties of the LPN/LVN may include by are not limited to: Provides technically proficient patient-centered care by confirming the reason for visit - conducting pre-visit outreach - reinforcing instructions - and ensuring Veterans bring needed logs - equipment - and health informationPerforms pre-visit planning by reviewing records - obtaining missing documentation - updating changes in conditions or treatments - and preparing clinical data to support an efficient - high-quality appointment with general review by a supervisor - RN - or providerManages efficient clinic flow by rooming patients - collecting vital data - completing assigned clinical reminders - assisting providers with procedures - administering medications and immunizations - and maintaining clean - stocked exam roomsUses judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatmentssupports clinical decision-making by reviewing medications and allergies - identifying urgent needs - initiating nursing protocols or clinical pathways as locally approved - and communicating key findings to the RN or providerRecognizes and considers emotional - socioeconomic - and age-related factors when organizing and delivering patient carePrepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/proceduresObserves patient 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 providerRecognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations - seeks assistance from the RN and/or provider - and initiates appropriate emergency interventions as directedActively seeks opportunities to enhance team functioning through health coaching - patient education - secure message management - consult tracking - participation in PACT meetings - and follow-up with no-show patients to ensure safety and continuity of careCollaborates with the PACT to achieve access - continuity - quality - and patient-experience goals - contributing to panel management through schedule review - identifying appropriate visit modalities - and completing or routing secure messages with only general reviewWork Schedule: Typically - Monday-Friday - 7:30 a.m- 4:00 p.mSchedule subject to change based on facility needsRecruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not AuthorizedPermanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not AuthorizedPay: 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 experienceParental 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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 AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: GS-03: 99267FS - GS-04: 99266FS - GS-05: 99265FS - GS-06: 99264FS Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.