Licensed Practical Nurse- VA Community Living Center

SummaryThis Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) position is located at the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System - VA Community Living Center in Sioux Falls - SD. The center's mission focuses on delivering compassionate - person-centered care to Veterans who need extended hospital stays and short-term rehabilitation services. In this capacity - the LPN collaborates with a nursing team to support Veterans in achieving optimal well-being - preventing health declines - and ensuring comfort during end-of-life care.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) and 7407(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 applicant(See Education section of this announcement for exceptions) Licensure - 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 gradeGS-03 - None beyond the basic requirementsLPNs 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 involvedGS-04 - Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVNOR Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) 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 proceduresOR Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months durationGS-05 - Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalentDemonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problemsWorks 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 deliveryProvides 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 - 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 proceduresObservation 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/DOKnowledge 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 arrestRecognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and 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 proceduresHowever - completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level reviewGS-06 - 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/LVNTechnically 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 physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/proceduresAbility to observe - identify - and respond to a patient's needs for care including medication - equipment-assisted care - and patient/family educationIn organizing and delivering care - the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional - socio-economic - and age-related factorsPrepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and 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 - and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directedKnowledge 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 staffEstablishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - and to promote positive relationships - communication and socialization skillsFosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care deliveryEffectively incorporates knowledge and 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 and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment - and monitoring the patient's condition before - during - and 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 nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practiceReference: 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.DutiesTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include but are not limited to: Assist with daily cares such as shower/bathing - dressing - ambulating - and feedingParticipate in the evaluation of responses to interventions in the areas of health promotion - wound care - basic physical/psychological/social assessments - support care plans - palliative care - hospicePrepare and administer medications prescribed by the providerPrioritize patient care needs - support care plans - seeking assistance and guidance by informing the CLC Registered Nurse or the CLC providers of changes in patient's conditionPerform complex procedures to include catheterizations - peripheral IV insertion - saline flushes in peripheral lines and maintenance of peripheral linesAssist provider with diagnostic tests and proceduresCollect specimen samples from patientsRecognize and respond to patient emergencies - initiating life saving measures while waiting for help to arriveAbility to provide Basic Life Support if neededDocument data into the electronic medical record following established guidelinesMentor lower graded LPNs and unlicensed medical staffOther duties as assignedWork Schedule: Sunday-Saturday - Day/Evening/Night ShiftsRotating holidays and weekends requiredWork is scheduled in 8 and 12 hour shifts between 7:30 p.m.-7:30 a.mAdditional Premium Pay: Shift Differential - 10% of basic pay for work performed during regularly scheduled hours between 6pm and 6amWeekend Premium - 25% of basic pay for work performed between the hours of midnight Friday and midnight SundayHoliday Pay - 2 times basic hourly rate for regularly scheduled - non-overtime work on a designated holidayCompressed/Flexible: Available Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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)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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experienceParental 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 positionPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Physical requirements: This position requires some degree of fitness - strength - and agilityDuties require extensive periods of standing and walkingWorking with patients requires regular and recurring bending - lifting - stooping - stretching - pushing - pulling - lifting arm overhead - and similar activitiesYou will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this positionQuestions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examinationSioux Falls is part of the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23)The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical CentersThis is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullestAs an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each VeteranThis is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's communityThis aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.