Licensed Practical Nurse - Special (Medicine) Outpatient Clinic

About the role

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is directly responsible to the Registered Nurse and/or preceptor for providing direct care within his/her scope of practice. This vacancy is in the Out-patient Specialty Clinics located at the Bowling Campus of the Lexington VA Health Care System.

Responsibilities

• Carries out patient care duties based on the patients' condition, using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments, and accurately recognizing, reporting, and documenting relevant patient information.
• Observes, identifies, and responds to patient's needs for care including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education.
• Administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for, documents, and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments.
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to urgent or emergent patient care situations, notifying the Registered Nurse and/or preceptor and initiating appropriate emergency interventions.
• 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.
• Performs support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized procedures, which includes 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.

Requirements

The LPN must be able to carry out patient care duties, technically proficient in performing and completing assigned duties.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Active, full, current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS 4 level or equivalent.
• Completion of at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS 5.

Skills

Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous medications. Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest. Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations and the ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members and other staff. Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which includes preparing the patient and 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.

Benefits

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. 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).

Pay

Pay Scale: V744

Schedule

Administrative DTOD such as 0730 - 1600/0800 - 1630/0830-1700 Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized 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)