Career Center

Summary

The Licensed Vocational Nurse/Practical Nurse (LVN/LPN) has a broad degree of practical nursing knowledge and skills. The LVN/LPN will care for adults in the Specialty Care - Nursing Service (Sleep Medicine and Renal Clinic). The LVN/LPN will provide nursing support to assist with triaging - rooming in patients - obtaining vital signs - completing CSSRS screens - assisting providers with minor procedures - and troubleshooting care coordination challenges.

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-05 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 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 response to a patient's needs for care including medication - equipment-assisted care - and patient/family education
• 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience and Certifications 1-2 years of nursing (LVN/LPN) experience
• One year of outpatient or ambulatory care experience
• One year of care coordination experience
• Salary for this position ranges dependent upon applicant qualifications GS-05: $72 -353-$94 -051 annually GS-06: $78 -734-$102 -350 annually
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 6
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 5 to 6
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• The position requires potentially - long periods of combined walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable or working effectively in stressful situation - able to shift priorities based on needs of the organization
• The incumbent may be required to travel occasionally
• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments
• Telework is position dependent and appropriate approvals are required
• telework is not guaranteed and incumbent must comply with all regulations relevant to telework agreements - policies - and processes
• If a position requires driving - incumbent is required to maintain compliance with all relevant policies and processes.

Duties

• Duties and responsibilities of the Intermittent LVN include: Utilizes judgement and establishes work priorities and completes assignments in a timely manner with minimal supervision
• Observes - recognizes - and reports significant or adverse changes inpatient's' condition in a timely fashion and responds appropriately to emergency situations
• Ability to triage - perform chart scrubbing - respond to department phone calls - secure messaging - patient education - and participate in team huddles and meetings Ability to assist in obtaining outside records - Community Care medical records - upload - and communicate with providers Ability to place and coordinate HOPTEL and Beneficiary Travel Requests Utilizes judgement when communicating with patients regarding requests for labs - medication refills - and directs requests to the appropriate Licensed Provider Complete assessment of patient condition and response to treatment and initiates follow-up as needed
• Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and progress towards attainment of goals and expected
• Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) - Clinical Procedures - and Bar-Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) software per policy - as well as any future patient documentation programs
• Communicate with patients via secure messaging and VA Video Connect
• Coordinate care for his/her panel of patients such as connecting them to all available resources
• Collaborate with Providers to devise individualized patient care plans including assisting Providers with time outs - room setting and rooming in patients on clinic days
• Communicating/coordinating care & appointments pre-& post-operatively with local VAs for patients who live far.) Identifies nursing diagnosis/clinical problems and related interventions according to Nursing Service/unit policy Treats patients and colleagues with respect for all types - levels - and variations of personal and professional differences Facilitates the provision of continuity of care with other health care providers through timely follow up Coordination of care - focusing on patient transition through the continuum of care - patient - and family health education with a focus on self-management based on the patient's goals Functions independently with minimum supervision and maintains ongoing collaboration with physicians - peers - and others on the healthcare team as well as within the community as indicated
• Work Schedule: 0800-1630 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized