Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse (Nursing, Mental Health)

Summary This position is located in the Nursing Service (Mental Health) Inpatient Mental Health / Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program at the VA Bedford Healthcare System - in Bedford - MA. This is a Full-Time position at 40-hours per week. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEnglish Language Proficiency: Practical Nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)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 completedEXCEPTION: 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 employmentVHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 - enacted 11/21/83 - and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 - enacted 10/28/86 & for their future personnel actions under this authorityThe waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversionsIndividuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved schoolSee paragraph 4 - section CLicense: Full - active - current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or District of ColumbiaMay 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 meeting the Basic Requirements - applicants will need to meet the grade level requirements - and the Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)To meet the grade level requirement the applicants must have the following listed below: Requirements for GS-3 Grade: None beyond the basic requirementsRequirements for GS-4 Grade: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVNOR Graduation from an approved school and 1 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 durationRequirements for GS-5 Grade: Possess Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalentAND Demonstrated the following KSAs: Demonstrate knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problemsWork with 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 deliveryProvide 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 - & appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies & proceduresObservation & 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 & ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated - promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO - & assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrestRecognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards & 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 proceduresRequirements for GS-6 Grade: Possess completion of at least 1 year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN.AND Demonstrated the following KSA's: Technically 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 MD/DO for appropriateness & conformity with established policies/proceduresAbility to observe - identify & respond to the patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment-assisted care and patient/family educationIn organizing and delivering care - the LPN/LVN recognizes & considers emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic - and age-related factorsPrepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) & 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 - & initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directedKnowledge & understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations & ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family members & other staffEstablishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings & attitudes - & to promote positive relationships - communication & socialization skillsFosters an environment of respect for individual patient & family rights to privacy & dignity in all aspects of care deliveryEffectively incorporates knowledge & understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients - family members - and/or other internal/external customersKnowledge 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 & handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment - & monitoring the patient's condition before - during & following the procedureServes 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/proceduresActively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve & advance nursing practice. Duties This Practical Nurse position is located in the Nursing Service (Mental Health) at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center - in Bedford - MassachusettsThis announcement is intended to fill multiple vacancies throughout the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bedford - MAAvailable shifts could be days - evenings - nights - or include weekends/holidays to cover shortages or high patient volumeShift changes will be considered based on patient and facility needsUnder the direct supervision of the RN - MD - DO - NP or PA the Practical Nurse is held accountable for delivering direct patient care to adult through geriatric aged patientsHe/she recognizes the age-related needs and demonstrates knowledge and care appropriate to that age groupHe/she considers the cognitive - physical - emotional - and chronological maturation needs of the patients - demonstrates competence - and correctly provides appropriate care for that age group or groupsMajor Duties in addition to basic Practical Nurse duties include - but are not limited to: Collects data and collaborates in the assessment of the health status of a patientImplements aspects of the plan of care as delegatedParticipates in the evaluation of patient responses to interventionsParticipates in health teaching and counseling to promote - attain - and maintain the optimum health level of patients - as delegatedRecognizes - reports and records promptly all changes in physical condition and behavior of patientsCompletes routine documentation of results of care and treatment according to policy - guidelines - instructions - (e.gflow sheets) utilizing the electronic record and information networkDifferentiates between emergent and non-emergent conditionsReports promptly and accurately records critical/emergency situationsDemonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and /or behavioral problemsDemonstrates a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DOTechnically efficient 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' conditionsAbility to observe - identify and respond to the patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment assisted care and patient/family educationKnowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex - diagnostic tests and /or specialized practices or proceduresInpatient Units - Part of being an employee with the Bedford VA includes taking care of all of the veterans across the hospitalAll inpatient units include Mental Health - Acute Psychiatric - Long Term Psychiatric - Residential - Long Term Care - Short Term Care - Hospice - Rehabilitation - and DementiaAll staff are required and may have to float to support the needs of the inpatient unitsPreferred Experience: 1 year experience in Mental Health/Detox Work Schedule: Multiple tours availableto be discussed at interview and determined on selectionTelework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: F1966 - F1967 - F1968 - F1969 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: This position is covered by a special rateNarrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointmentThis is an open continuous announcement until January 18 - 2027Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.