Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
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Duties
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The Licensed Practical Nurse is responsible for:
- Maintain BCLS certification
- Maintains nursing current, active, full and unrestricted licensure
- Demonstrates a positive image of nursing and the Medical Center and the VHA
- Attends in-service programs
- Completes mandatory in-services/reviews
- Adheres to dress code as established
- Mentors new employees to the unit
- Demonstrates responsibility to the position by reporting on time for scheduled tours of duty and takes into consideration the workload of the unit when requesting leave
- Completes assigned duties and responsibilities
- Responsible for providing Nursing Care to residents in Long Term care, dementia unit, respite, hospice, rehabilitation, transitional care and their families/significant others.
- Relates and interacts with patients and staff - Treats internal/external customers with respect - Welcomes additional help
- Begins to demonstrate a practical knowledge of human behavior, motivations, and reactions to situations in working effectively with patients, family and significant others
- Participates in group meetings to help patients share feelings, interact and function in accordance with the patient's treatment plan.
- Begins to demonstrate constructive relationships with individual patients to elicit feelings and attitudes and to promote positive relationships, communications and socialization skills.
- Utilizes team building skills to work efficiently and effectively with other disciplines.
- Participates with the interdisciplinary team in the development, implementation and evaluation of the patient's treatment plan.
- Uses discretion in all confidential matters.
- Models commitment to customer service.
- Manages patient complaints effectively and promptly.
- Responds appropriately as a member of the Cardiac, Disaster, Violence, Fire Fighting, and/or Code Yellow Team.
- Handles assignments to other areas with professional behavior.
- Willingness to accept organizational changes and accepts constructive ideas for the betterment of the organization.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Uses sound judgment in selecting the most appropriate application of procedures and guidelines.
- Utilizes nursing process in practice
- Begins to demonstrate critical decision making skills.
- Has the knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and self-direction in carrying out the most complex nursing care assignments, including assignments for acute care, long-term or ambulatory care, or psychiatric patients requiring skilled nursing care.
- Demonstrates ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for nursing, medication and equipment-assisted care and to recognize deviations from normal.
- Considers physical, emotional and social factors in modifying patient care plans.
- Participates in unit based performance improvement initiatives.
- Participates on Nursing, CORE, and/or Medical Center committees
- Demonstrates awareness of mission, vision, and value objectives of the CORE and Medical Center.
- Implements clinical guidelines as appropriate.
- Serves as a member of the nursing unit team with selected patients and provides care to them on a regular and recurring basis.
- Performs nursing skills in a safe manner that prevents personal injury to patients, self, or others.
- Maintains unit orderliness and cleanliness.
- Accurately reports and records significant patient information via hard or soft copies.
- Completed work needs only a general review by a registered nurse for technical soundness, appropriateness, and conformity with policy and nursing assignment.
- Demonstrated knowledge, skill and ability to recognize and respond appropriately to emergency situations.
- Administers prescribed medications including Intravenous fluids (after instruction and supervised practice) excluding central IV lines and investigational drugs, and performs more complex treatments. Utilizes Omnicell medication system per policy.
- Performs support duties for diagnostic procedures, which includes preparing the patient, assisting in the diagnostic examination, preparing and passing instruments, and monitoring the patient's condition.
- Attends interdisciplinary treatment team meetings on assigned patients and provides input as needed.
- Supports the patient and/or family members integration of the interdisciplinary treatment plan toward the achievement of discharge goals.
- Provides instructions to patient on preoperative and postoperative procedures which were previously given to the patient by the nurse or physician. After surgery, assists and instructs patients on how to keep lungs clear. Instructs patients on how equipment is used (oxygen, suction or respirator).
Work Schedule: 11:00pm-0730am rotating weekends/holidays
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Bargaining Unit: Yes
Recruitment Incentive: Authorized
EDRP: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
NOTE: Prior to accepting a final employment offer, all selected applicants will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding deployment responsibilities
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination and maintain CDT physical readiness.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Must be able to meet physical demands which include strenuous physical activity to include carrying persons and equipment, walking long distances over difficult terrain, running, climbing, working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions, long periods of standing, and bending and stooping.
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.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: Written and Spoken
- Physical Standards: All applicants must meet the physical standards for the position. A physical examination prior to employment may be required.
- 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.
- 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. 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. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated in section A, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.
GS-3
- None beyond the basic requirements.
GS-4
- Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or
- Graduation from an approved school 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
- 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.
- Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. 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. Provides 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 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.
- 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.
- Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.
- 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. However, completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review.
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.
- 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; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; and to 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.
- Ability to 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, the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors.
- Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and p
