Summary

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) serves the Primary Care Service and functions as a member of the nursing and treatment teams in planning and implementing a full range of practical nursing care for veterans.

Qualifications

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
• Education: Must have graduated from a school of practical nursing approve 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 licensure will be accepted as meeting the education requirements for VHA employment 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
• The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions
• Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• 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
• 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 - 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-3 - Licensed Practical Nurse: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 - Licensed Practical Nurse: (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• OR (b) 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 and sterile techniques and procedures
• OR (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• GS-5 - Licensed Practical Nurse: Experience: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the required experience - the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Works 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 delivery
• Provides effective education to patients and/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 - and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures
• Observation 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/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 - and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognizes and 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 - Licensed Practical Nurse Experience: 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
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the required experience - the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Technically proficient 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
• to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
• and to accurately recognize - report and 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) and 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 - and 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 - and other staff
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - and 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 established customer service standards in all interactions with patients - family members - and/or other internal/external customers
• Requirements continued below in Education section

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Bathing - showering - oral care - shaving - feeding - turning and positioning - and ambulating
• The LPN is able to identify/apply age specific considerations
• Performs work in a safe manner providing a safe environment for patients - self - and other staff - for example - using universal precautions - isolation procedures - and body mechanics
• Collecting and labeling specimens - e.g. - blood - sputum - urine - stool
• Performing enterostomal care - perineal care - administering enemas
• Providing bowel/bladder training - applying external urinary devices - performing bladder catheterization
• Sets up and initiates oxygen therapy - including nebulization treatments
• instructs patient in use of incentive spirometer
• monitors and records observations of chest tubes and pleurovacs
• assembles water-sealed chest drainage systems
• Providing oral - nasopharyngeal - and tracheal suctioning - and tracheostomy care
• Providing complex wound care management and treatments
• Providing for lifting - moving - transferring - and/or transporting patients
• Using patient lifting devices - pressure relief mattresses - and electronic scales feeding pumps and IV pumps
• Applying protective/supporting devices or restraints under the direction of the RN or medical provider without any personal limitations or physical restrictions
• Applying abdominal binders - anti-embolic stockings - an ace bandages - hyper/hypothermia blankets - and alternating pressure boots
• Providing post-mortem care per Nursing Patient Care Procedure
• Administering nasogastric tube feedings
• Implements established care plans
• Performs such diagnostic procedures such as obtaining vital signs - pain screen - pulse oximetry - bladder scanning - I&O - heights - weights - fingerstick blood sugars - breathalyzer - and EKGs
• Recognizes deviations from normal
• Documents and reports results to the registered nurse and/or physician
• Administers oral - subcutaneous - and intramuscular medications
• Administers immunizations independently upon completion of competency
• Observes - reports - and documents patient's response to medication including adverse reactions and possible medication errors
• Makes frequent rounds on patients - noting environment - changes in patient's behavior and/or physical condition
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30am-4:00pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the service) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When 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 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
• Functional Statement #: 00641-F -00642-F -00643-F -00644-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized