Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse

About the role

The LPN/LVN in Specialty Clinics functions as a member of the team as assigned. Provides direct and indirect patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse and/or licensed provider. The LPN/LVN is responsible for delivering safe - effective - and compassionate care to Veterans in a variety of specialty areas such as - but not limited to cardiology - pulmonology - urology - podiatry - orthopedics - general surgery - ear nose and throat - pain - gastroenterology - dermatology and eye clinics.

Responsibilities

• Initiates - performs - and completes assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• Carrries out assigned patient care based on the patents' conditions
• To use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
• To accurately recognize - report and record relevant patient information
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous)
• Performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medication/treatments
• Reports any deviations from normal to RN or licensed provider
• Recognizes urgent and emergent patient care situation
• Serves as a preceptor in orienting - educating - and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for those more complex - specialized tests/procedures
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families
• Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery
• Incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients - family members - and/or other internal/external customers

Requirements

• 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
• 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)

Qualifications

• 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
• Exceptions 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 employment
• VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 - enacted November 21 - 1983 - and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 - enacted October 28 - 1986and for their future personnel actions under this authority
• The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions
• Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• 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
• 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: 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 in paragraphs 3b(2)(a) through (c) below:
• (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVNor
• (b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) 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
• (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• GS-5 (a) Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• (b) Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• (c) Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner]
• GS-6 (a) 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
• (b) Technically proficient in initiating - performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• (c) Knowledge 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 information
• (d) Ability to observe - identify and respond to the patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment-assisted care and patient/family education
• (e) Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• (f) 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 licensed provider
• (g) 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
• (h) Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• (i) Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO
• Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures
• 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)
• 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)
• Telework: Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 564-01476-F - 564-01477-F - 564-01478-F - 564-01479-F

Benefits

• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized