Licensed Practical Nurse

Summary

This position is located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Southeast Network (VISN 7) - Central Alabama VA Medical Center- Tuskegeein Tuskegee - AL. The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care service - positive customer service - and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the Veterans.

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:

• 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
• In 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 English
• 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
• Exceptions 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/ LVN
• 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 Columbia
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - 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-03 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-04 (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• or(b) 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 procedures
• or (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• GS-05 Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Ability to serve as a responsible member of a nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients - family members - professional and/or other support personnel involved in the delivery of patient care
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare - administer - and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous medications
• This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting noted changes in the patient's condition
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardia and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies
• GS-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/LVN
• Proficiency 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 - using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments - and accurately recognizing - reporting - and recording relevant patient information Ability to observe - identify - and respond to a 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 - 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 - documents - and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directed
• Knowledge 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 staff
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - 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 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 includes preparing the patient and 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
• Preferred Experience and Certifications 1 year of Long Term Care experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Community Living Center Licensed Practical Nurse serves under general supervision and contributes to the interdisciplinary healthcare team development of the patient's overall health plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions
• Be available to deploy with 72 hours' notice within 2 windows of time per calendar year - for up to a month at a time Work in a high-stress environment - possibly in austere conditions or an emergency setting Treat or provide direct patient care within the requirements of practice/privileges/licensure Participate in CDT training activities and demonstrate readiness to apply professional skills to a range of emergency situations Ensure qualifications and required certifications are maintained - including Basic Life Support (BLS) - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) - or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) certification Maintain CDT physical readiness requirements - vaccinations - and safety precautions related to infection control Duties may include but not limited to: Taking vital signs - pain screening - applying binders - bandages - and restraints - and adhering to isolation practices
• Prepares medications and administers via ordered route - and appropriately documents intervention
• Provides a range of customer focused nursing care and treatment procedures to patients/residents: Personal hygiene - grooming - turning - lifting and positioning patients/residents to prevent decubitus/stimulate circulation
• insert nasogastric tubes - tube feeding - monitoring and maintaining rate of IV fluids
• assisting in maintenance of patency of gastric and urinary drainage
• performing urinary catheterizations - administering all types of enemas
• assisting patients with nebulization treatment
• Collects data for patient assessments and documents in a timely and accurate manner
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team planning conference
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (orally and intramuscular injections)
• Checks narcotics - certifying correctness with the off-going and on-coming registered nurse
• Assists with rehabilitative/restorative aspects of care - sensory stimulations - Reality Orientation - Social and Reminiscent group sessions
• patient's/resident's participating in individual/group and ADL - other prescribed therapies
• Recognizes signs of cardiac/respiratory arrests and choking
• initiating Code Blue signals - applying CPR measures and other resuscitative measures
• Fosters a positive climate that is socially - emotionally - and physically comfortable for patients/residents and families
• Reports promptly to duty as scheduled and carrying out assignments in a timely manner
• Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm - 3:30pm-12:00am - 12:00am-8:30am
• All tours are subject to a rotating schedule that includes weekends and holidays Telework: N/A Travel: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Functional Statement #: 60029F - 6008F - 6009F - 619-59890-A

Create a Job Match for Similar Jobs

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

Connections working at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration More Jobs from This Employer Return to Search Results