Licensed Practical Nurse - Specialty Care

About the role

This Licensed Practical Nurse position is located in the Primary Care Service Line but will provide Specialty Care. The position will be located temporarily in St. James, MO until the new facility in Rolla, MO becomes operational; projected March 1, 2027.

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 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.
• 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. An LPN/LVN who has or has ever had any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: 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 above):

GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4: Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria below:

• (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or
• (b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in regulation) 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
• (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.

GS-5: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. This level also requires demonstrated knowledge and ability to:

• Provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
• Work with the RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants/Health Technicians in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery.
• Provide effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and/or prescribed treatment regimes.
• Demonstrate ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact appropriately with patients, family members, professional and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice.
• 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. Observation 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/DO.
• Recognize the need for and 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 arrest.
• Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.

GS-6: 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/LVN. At this level the LPN/LVN is technically proficient in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations, with knowledge and ability to:

• Appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions; use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; and 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.
• 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, recognize and consider emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors.
• Prepare and administer prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous) and perform treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observe for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly and accurately document noted changes, and report any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.
• Recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
• Apply knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations, and reactions to situations, and appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members, and other staff.
• Establish constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication, and socialization skills.
• Foster an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery