Career Center

Summary

This position is located at Lebanon VA Medical Center within the Nursing - Operations service line.

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
• Licensure
• Full - active - current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or District of Columbia
• An LPN[/LVN] who has or has ever had - any license(s) revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3 - section B - paragraph 16 of this part
• English Language Proficiency
• Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• May 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 in section A - 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-7 Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent - fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN
• Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties - including assignments in selected - more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings
• Knowledge base promotes the incorporation of current patient care data in actively contributing to the development of the patient's overall health plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions
• Positions at this grade level require broader knowledge and skills because supervision is more general and employees are expected to be involved to a greater degree in the development and modification of treatment plans
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery
• Makes astute observations of subtle - less obvious changes - both physical and emotional - in patient's condition - and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patient's response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient's care plan
• Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention
• At this grade level - the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing - and - as appropriate - modifying patient care treatment
• They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations
• Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments - accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and patient's response to medications/treatments received
• (This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions - promptly inform the RN or MD/DO of observed changes in patient's condition and initiate appropriate - prescribed interventions
• Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels
• Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO for appropriate team intervention and effectively intervene - as directed - to assure the continuation of optimal - safe and therapeutic patient care delivery
• At this grade level - the LPN/LVN must have a broader knowledge of the patient treatment process and exercise judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate
• Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes
• Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with patients and/or family members who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control - resistant or abusive behaviors - or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions
• This includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervision
• Exhibits skill - creativity and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces - research projects or in developing educational materials/media
• Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice
• Possesses comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices to serve as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care
• Serves as a role model and mentor to other nursing staff in the application of more complex technology - effectively guiding and directing their continuing practice in these areas
• Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery
• Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO
• In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level - the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff
• Work of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervision
• Individuals in these positions are - to a considerable extent - expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles - art and science of practical nursing
• The staff mix is such that employees at this grade level are expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under very general supervision
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of LPN experience with inpatient and/or long-term care/rehab experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• The primary purpose of this position is to perform a very wide range of patient personal care - support diagnostic services - and chart activities on a regular and continual basis on a surgical - medical - rehabilitation - psychiatric - or long-term care ward/clinic
• The incumbent performs duties in such a way as to promote a sense of worth and dignity within each individual
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Functions independently as the charge nurse for the shift - responsible for the care provided to the community living center (CLC) Veterans or the Mental Health (MH) veterans by the other licensed and non-licensed nursing staff during the assigned shift
• Assists the RN and other members of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) with providing input in the development of the care plan - based on the Veterans care needs
• Performs support duties for diagnostic procedures - which include preparing the Veteran and monitoring the Veteran's condition
• Assists with discharge planning of Veterans to more appropriate level of care
• Coordinates the transfer of Veterans to more appropriate levels of care dependent on acuity needs
• Promotes the values of cultural transformation and Veteran-centered care to nursing staff in the CLC
• Administers prescribed medications and performs more complex treatments in accordance with hospital policy and procedure and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Verifies physician orders in compliance with hospital policies and procedures and SOPs
• Identifies - initiates - and acts as a leader in the rehabilitation aspect of Veteran care - such as maintaining and/or improving current functional status through consideration of therapy programs such as Nursing Restorative Therapy - Resistance Therapy - Kinesiotherapy - and other Veteran therapy groups
• Monitors bladder and bowel functioning - tracking of I&O and hydration and initiates intervention when it is indicated
• Performs rehabilitative and restorative nursing care - as applicable
• Supports and enhances Veteran self-determination
• Consistently follows policies - SOPs - and procedures applicable to reusable medical equipment (RME) and infection control
• Assigns care and required documentation to the most appropriate level of skill required for the tasks/duties
• Evaluates and observes Veterans levels of acuity and communicating/reporting changes in acuity level to the medical provider - nursing supervisor - covering RN - and/or nurse manager (NM)
• Reports required information for hand-off communication to the oncoming shift and at other times to applicable staff and departments
• Communicates effectively with the NM - Nurse Officer of the Day (NOD) and/or medical provider on duty for issues affecting Veteran care and staffing levels
• Educates Veterans on their care needs
• Supports the NM in monitoring the practice of licensed and unlicensed nursing staff in Veteran care delivery
• Ensures completion of all shift documentation by other nursing staff - such as activities of daily living Activities of Daily Living (ADL) notes - pain management notes - and nursing entries
• Evaluates unit for safety issues - taking appropriate action when indicated - to include routine equipment checks (i.e
• Wanderguard unit - crash cart - refrigerators - etc.) and any equipment malfunction
• Responds during emergencies - assigning firefighter - assisting during fire drills - and responding to any safety issues as they arise
• Ensures adequacy of supplies needed for care provision
• Assigns and coordinates staff attendance at interdisciplinary meetings
• Performs additional duties as assigned
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 12:00 a.m
• - 8:00 a.m
• with rotating weekends and holidays
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 child
• Child 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 $416.66
• Retirement: 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 position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized