Licensed Practical Nurse - Primary Care

SummaryThis position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.QualificationsApplicants 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 RequirementsUnited States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEnglish Language ProficiencyIn accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken EnglishEducation - 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 applicantExceptions 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 OR granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVNLicensure - Active - full - current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - of the United States or the 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 the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each gradeThe candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.GS-03 The LPN GS-03 will perform at the advanced beginner levelHe/she is responsible for direct patient care activities under the supervision of the Registered Nurse (RN)Written assignmentwith supplemental verbal instructions that are given by the RNWork performance is observed and regularly evaluated by the Registered Nurse-for purposes of competency validationThe practical nurse seeks guidance from the RN when difficulty is encountered with the assignment GS-04 The LPN GS-04 will perform at the advanced beginner levelHe/she is responsible for direct patient care activities under the supervision of the Registered Nurse (RN)Written assignmentwith supplemental verbal instructions that are given by the RNWork performance is observed and regularly evaluated by the Registered Nurse-for purposes of competency validationThe practical nurse seeks guidance from the RN when difficulty is encountered with the assignmentDemonstrate ability to serve as a responsible member of the clinic and interact with patients - family members - professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care - and with members of other servicesAssists with answering the phone - conveying timely messages to the appropriate staff - placing calls/pages as neededHave the option to participate in the accurate collection of data as instructed by the Nurse Manager or designeeGS-05 The LPN GS-05 will demonstrate knowledge and ability to provide full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problemsWorks with the RN and/or MD to appropriately orient train less experienced LPN's - NAs - and Health Technicians (HT) according to acceptable standards of practice in the delivery optimal patient careDemonstrate ability to serve as a responsible member of the clinic and interact with patients - family members - professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care - and with members of other servicesAssist with answering the phone - conveying timely messages to the appropriate staff - placing calls/pages as neededHave the option to participate in the accurate collection of data as instructed by the Nurse Manager or designeeGS-06 The LPN GS-06 are 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' conditions - using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments - and accurately recognizing - reporting - and recording relevant patient informationAbility to observe - identify - and response to a patient's needs for care including medication - equipment-assisted care - and patient/family educationPrepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/proceduresObserves for - documents - and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatmentsKnowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directedKnowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations and the ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family members and other staffKnowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures - which includes preparing the patientPreferred Experience: 3-5 years of experience as in LPNDependability and experience in a variety of clinical setting such as Primary Care - internal medicine or other specialty outpatient clinic experienceKnowledge and ability to participate actively in teaching the patient - family and /or significant otherAbility to function in outpatient clinics with minimal supervisionAbility to recognize and respond to potential emergent patient situationsElectronic medical record experienceReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.Physical Requirements: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult - age 18 - to the elderly adult - age 65 and overJames HQuillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JHQVAMC) is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility - serving medical - surgical - and neurological inpatients and outpatientsThere is a large outpatient psychiatric population - with admissions for medical co-morbiditiesThis position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterityThis position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - lifting more than 10 pounds - and pushingTransferring patients and objects may be required.DutiesVA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Licensed Practical Nurse: - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-LPN-Career-Flyer.pdf Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Clinical Nursing Practice: Demonstrates proficiency in initiating - performing - and completing assigned duties while providing care to diverse patient populationsMaintains knowledge and ability to carry out patient care determined by the patient's condition utilizing judgement in selecting appropriate orders - procedures - and treatmentsand recognizing - reporting - and recording relevant patient information to include urgent and emergent situationsObserves - identifies - and responds to patient needs for medication - medical equipment - and patient/family education while considering emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio­-economic - and age-related factorsMaintains knowledge and skill 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 proceduresAdministration: Demonstrate ability to serve as a responsible member of the clinic and interact with patients - family members - professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care - and with members of other servicesAssist with answering the phone - conveying timely messages to the appropriate staff - placing calls/pages as neededParticipate in evaluation of nursing care through attendance and input at team conferences and communication with the Nurse ManagerFurther - participates in team conference development and implementation - by presenting a patient for team conference discussion when need identifiedResearch: Have the option to participate in the accurate collection of data as instructed by the Nurse Manager or designeeHave the option to make recommendations for the application of current research findings to practice as well as applying those findings as assigned by the Nurse Manager or designeeEducation: Provides appropriate information to patients and their families regarding the plan of careAssists the patient and family in understanding and acceptance of the disease process and encourages participation in the plan for the care and rehabilitation of the patientIdentifies patient's educational needs to include equipment - medication - treatment procedures - and diagnosisAssists with teaching patient/family as appropriateReusable Medical Equipment (RME):Be familiar with which items are cleaned locally (in clinic) and which items are sent to sterile processing service (SPS) for reprocessing and/or sterilizationIf items are to be transported for reprocessing - he/she must be aware of the initial decontamination steps that must be taken prior to transport of item and the appropriate method of transportBe responsible for following the local Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) drafted in accordance with the manufacturer's written recommendationsSPS and Infection Prevention and Control should be consulted when clarification of written instructions are neededNo one should be reprocessing any reusable medical equipment based on vendor's verbal instructions alone: this is not an adequate practiceWork Schedule:(Monday- Friday) 7:30 am.-4:00 pmor compressed/4-day work tour 7:00 am.-5:30 pm(based on needs of the service) Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station: Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increasesWhen 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)Pay Scale: V0Q2 and 001M 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) 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 61005-F61004-F61003-F61006-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact vha.elrsprogramsupport@va.gov - - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more