Summary

This 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.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: Graduate of a school of vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission at the time the program was completed by the applicant
• Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency [or] the National League for Nursing [Accrediting Commission]
• Exceptions include: Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 - enacted November 21 - 1983 - and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 - enacted October 28 - 1986
• and for their future personnel actions under this authority
• 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
• Licensure: Must have a full - current - active and unrestricted license as a graduate licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States or District of Columbia
• English Language: Must be proficient in spoken & written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Grade Determinations: GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements
• LVN's 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: May be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if you meet any of the criteria below: 6 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 & sterile techniques & 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 and meet the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA's): Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical & 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 & 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 - & or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures
• Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered & 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 - & assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognizes & 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: At least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements and meet the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSA's): Technically proficient in initiating - performing & 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 & 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) & 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 - & 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 - & other staff
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings & attitudes - & to promote positive relationships - communication & 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 - & or other internal/external customers Knowledge & 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 & 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 - & 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 & skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve & advance nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: Previous LVN experience Wound Care Experience Long Term Care Experience Rehab Experience Med-Surg experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Qualification Information Continued Below in the Additional Information Section

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Licensed Practical Nurse - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-LPN-Career-Flyer.pdf A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual
• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until May 30 - 2025
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 14 - 2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• Applicants who are referred will be considered for 90 days - after 90 days applicants will have to reapply
• A Community Living Center (CLC) is a VA Nursing Home
• Unlike many nursing homes in the past - a Community Living Center resembles \"home\" as much as possible
• It is a place where Veterans can receive nursing home level care - which includes help with activities of daily living (e.g. - bathing and getting dressed) and skilled nursing and medical care
• The CLC provides 24- hour skilled nursing care - restorative care - and Geriatric evaluation management
• Duties include but not limited to: Provides personal care and hygiene to adult and/or geriatric veteran - including bathing - oral hygiene - skin - hair and nail care - shaving and assisting with elimination
• Sets up equipment and administers oxygen therapy
• Assists veteran with repositioning - cough and deep breathing
• Sets up equipment and care for veterans requiring oral - nasopharyngeal/tracheostomy suctioning - and performs dressing changes with tracheostomy care in a competent manner
• Performs Accu-Checks
• cleans - calibrates - and maintains the machine
• Feeds and assists veteran in meeting nutritional needs - as necessary
• Provides for fluid needs
• Demonstrates competency in administration of feeding by nasogastric - gastrostomy - jejunostomy - and enteral tubes
• Establishes competent skills to perform sterile and non-sterile dressing changes utilizing appropriate technique as indicated in the nursing service policy and procedures
• Documents vital signs and performs other measurements - including temperature - pulse - respirations - blood pressure (BP) - neurological and circulatory functions - height - weight - and intake and output
• Provides genitourinary (GU) care - including establishment of skills to insert uncomplicated catheterizations and irrigations (indwelling) - as well as external catheter care
• Establishes proper technique and procedures with veterans to ensure assistive range of motion (ROM) - adaptive - orthopedic and/or restrictive devices as performed
• Safely performs veteran care duties requiring arduous physical exertion and use of both hands and legs - including lifting - transferring veterans - turning/repositioning adults of various body weights - and pushing/pulling a variety of carts - litters - and/or special beds/chairs
• Performs nursing care based on priorities set by the Registered Nurse
• Ensures that competencies for assigned/volunteered work areas are established via training and return demonstration with preceptor and documented appropriately prior to accepting work assignment
• Provides Medical Administration to include accurately administers to the correct veteran - the correct dosage - utilizing the correct route - at the correct time for oral - rectal - subcutaneous - intramuscular - intradermal and topical medicines as provided for use according to nursing policy and procedure - and instructs veteran's' regarding action - dosage - frequency and side effects of medications
• Veteran Safety - The LVN is expected to adhere to Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals and work with the members of the nursing care team to assure veteran safety
• This performed under close supervision of the RN
• Work Schedule: 7:30 am - 8:00 pm (days) - with an 8 hour shift per pay period for total of 80 hours a pay period
• Weekends and holidays required May be required to work other shifts - be on call - work weekends and/or holidays as patient care and needs of the service require
• Should operational needs dictate - candidates must be willing to work within other units (including community-based outpatient clinics - for example) to assist and support continuation of the provision of care/services
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 52824-F