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 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.

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:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens) Education
• Must be a graduate of practical nursing approved by the appropriate State accrediting agency and/or the National League for Nursing 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
• Language Proficiency
• Must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Licensure
• Full - current - active and unrestricted licensure as a graduate licensed practical nurse in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States or District of Columbia
• Physical Standards
• All applicants must meet physical requirements for this position
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS: GS-3. None beyond the basic requirements
• LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g. - medication administration)
• however - completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved
• GS-4 Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN - 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 NAs/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 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN
• 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 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 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/DO Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO - and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06
• Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Provides for the patient's privacy
• Assists with data collection for outpatients and new admissions
• Completes specific sections of the Nursing Admission Record
• Observes - reports and documents signs and symptoms of patient's general condition
• Participates in patient care conferences - exchanging information about patients' needs and condition
• Provides input into the Nursing Care Plan and/or the Interdisciplinary Plan of Care
• Provides direct nursing care to adult and geriatric patients according to nursing standards and Medical Center policy and procedure
• This includes - but is not limited to: Bathing - showering - oral care - shaving - toe/fingernail care - fingernail clipping - feeding - turning - positioning - and ambulating - while considering age-specific needs - e.g
• the geriatric patients' need for lubrication
• Collecting and labeling specimens - e.g
• sputum - emesis - urine - stool
• Performing enterostomal care - perineal care - administering enemas and colostomy irrigations - while considering age specific needs - e.g
• the geriatric patients' need for a bedpan
• Providing bowel/bladder training - applying external urinary devices - performing bladder catheterization
• Providing oral - nasopharyngeal - and tracheal suctioning - tracheostomy care - administering oxygen
• Providing physical/emotional care to respirator dependent patients
• Administering enteral feedings
• Providing wound care and reporting any changes and/or progress to the RN
• Performing peritoneal dialysis
• Applying abdominal binders - anti-embolic stockings - ace bandages - and alternating pressure boots
• Providing for lifting - moving - transferring - and/or transporting patients
• Using patient lifting devices - pressure relief mattresses - hyper/hypothermia blankets - electronic scales - feeding pumps
• Applying protective/supporting devices - restraints
• Providing post-mortem care
• Implements established care plan
• Reports and documents progress or changes in patient's behavior and/or physical condition to the RN and in the medical record
• Performs check of emergency equipment
• Recognizes and initiates emergency measures consistent with training
• Calls Crises Intervention Team or Code 2000 - according to campus - and assists with the application of leather restraints and/or seclusion - while providing for physical and safety needs
• Calls Cardiac Arrest Team or Code 4000 - depending on campus - performs CPR
• Follows appropriate procedure for Fire Drills
• Follows appropriate policies and/or procedures for other emergencies - e.g
• disaster - bomb threat
• Provides care for pre-operative and post-operative patients - including those having special procedures and treatments
• Assures the presence of a signed informed consent
• Assists in evaluating psychological and educational needs
• Reports changes in patient's behavior and or physical condition to the registered nurse and/or physician
• Uses identified learning needs to provide patient education and teaching documents in the medical record
• In organizing and delivering care - the LPN recognizes and considers - emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic - and age-specific factors - e.g
• the geriatric population's proneness to visual or hearing impairment - will be addressed
• Teaching may include pre- and post-op care - diabetic self-care - activities of daily living - coughing - deep breathing - suctioning and tracheostomy care - self-administration of medication and additional procedures as directed by the registered nurse
• Performs such diagnostic procedures as cardiac monitoring (in specialty area) - TPR - B/P - Pulse Oximetry - I&O - heights - weights - finger sticks - phlebotomies - and EKGs
• Recognizes deviations from normal
• Documents and reports result to the registered nurse and/or physician
• Preferred Experience: 1-2 years as an LPN in an acute care medical center Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN2EDRPCoordinators@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized