Licensed Practical-Vocational Nurse (Mental Health)

About the role

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.

In this role, you will deliver high-quality, patient-centered care to individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, many experiencing homelessness. Providing compassionate, trauma-informed care in a structured, recovery-oriented setting.

Responsibilities

• Delivers practical nursing care to adult through geriatric aged patients.
• Collaborates in the assessment of the health status of a patient.
• Implements aspects of the plan of care as delegated.
• Participates in the evaluation of patient responses to interventions.
• Participates in health teaching and counseling to promote, attain, and maintain the optimum health level of patients.
• Recognizes, reports, and records promptly all changes in physical condition and behavior of patients.
• Completes routine documentation of results of care and treatment according to policy, guidelines, instructions (e.g. flow sheets).
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
• Technically efficient in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.
• Observes, identifies, and responds to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education.
• Performs support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures.

Requirements

• Basic Requirements: Graduate of an approved school of practical or vocational nursing.
• 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 completed.
• License: Full, active, and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or District of Columbia.

Qualifications

• Requirements for GS-3 Grade: None beyond the basic requirements.
• Requirements for GS-4 Grade: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN OR 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 procedures OR Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
• Requirements for GS-5 Grade: Possess Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent AND 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 problems Work 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 delivery Provide effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and/or prescribed treatment regimes Demonstrated 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 practice 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 & procedures Observation & 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, and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards & supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO Individual at this grade level is expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures.
• Requirements for GS-6 Grade: Possess completion of at least 1 year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent AND Demonstrated the following KSA's: Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care and patient/family education 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 & handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment, & monitoring the patient's condition before, during & 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 knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve & advance nursing practice.

Skills

• Compassion
• Trauma-informed care
• Structured, recovery-oriented setting
• Medication administration
• Emergency measures
• Complex diagnostic tests and procedures
• Customer service standards
• Age-appropriate care
• Teamwork

Benefits

Not specified

Pay

Not specified

Schedule

Multiple tours available to be discussed at interview and determined on selection