Licensed Practical Nurse- VA Community Living Center Hospice Cottage

About the role

This Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) position is located at the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System - VA Community Living Center Hospice Cottage in Sioux Falls - SD. The center's mission focuses on delivering compassionate - person-centered care to Veterans who need extended hospital stays and short-term rehabilitation services. In this capacity - the LPN collaborates with a nursing team to support Veterans in achieving optimal comfort during end-of-life care.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with a nursing team to support Veterans in achieving optimal comfort during end-of-life care.
• Performs all duties within the scope of their license (e.g. - medication administration).
• Works 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 delivery.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures.
• Observes 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/DOK.
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.
• Documents data into the electronic medical record following established guidelines.
• Mentor lower graded LPNs and unlicensed medical staff.

Requirements

Basic Requirements:

• 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: Active - full - current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Qualifications

• Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent.
• 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.

Skills

Knowledge 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 procedures. Knowledge 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 arrest. Knowledge 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 staff. 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. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients - family members - and/or other internal/external customers. Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures - which include 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. Serves as a preceptor in orienting - educating - and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex - specialized tests/procedures. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including:

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Shift Differential - 10% of basic pay for work performed during regularly scheduled hours between 6pm and 6am.
• Weekend Premium - 25% of basic pay for work performed between the hours of midnight Friday and midnight Sunday.
• Holiday Pay - 2 times basic hourly rate for regularly scheduled - non-overtime work on a designated holiday.
• 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).
• Annual Leave - 13 days.
• Sick Leave - 13 days.
• 11 paid Federal holidays per year.
• 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.
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance.
• Telework: Not available.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
• Physical requirements: This position requires some degree of fitness - strength - and agility.
• Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking.
• Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending - lifting - stooping - stretching - pushing - pulling - lifting arm overhead - and similar activities.

Pay

Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Schedule

Sunday-Saturday - Night Shifts.

Additional Information

Rotating holidays and weekends required. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized. Physical requirements: This position requires some degree of fitness - strength - and agility. Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending - lifting - stooping - stretching - pushing - pulling - lifting arm overhead - and similar activities. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Sioux Falls is part of the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23).