Practical Nurse (Ambulatory Care)

Full Job Description

The Nursing, Ambulatory Care department is seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who will provide direct and indirect care to assigned patients while under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN).

The LPN will provide care to Veterans that will promote the Veteran attaining and maintaining maximum functionality.

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.

Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing that was approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing (Accrediting Commission, NLNAC) at the time of completion.

Licensure: Holds a current, full, active and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical nurse or vocational nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.

English Language Proficiency: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.

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: least six months of qualifying experience as an LPN/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 and sterile techniques and procedures; OR, Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.

LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-3 grade level; however, they are expected to exercise greater judgment, require less supervision, and to operate in accordance with all established policies, procedure and techniques.

GS-05: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS 04 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: at least one (1) year of [additional] qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, 2 years total qualifying experience, that has provided you with the following: 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.

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).The 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.

Preferred Experience: One (1) year of previous LPN experience, and experience in blood draws/laboratory procedures Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.

The position requires long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.

He/she may be exposed to infected Veterans and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing/equipment in isolation situations or during day-to-day clinic functions and procedures.

The LPN must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on Veteran needs.

The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to Veterans who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as screening or testing, as a condition of employment. Major Duties:

The Licensed Practical Nurse provides safe and individualized nursing care to patients in the Ambulatory/Specialty Care setting.

He/she must be able to interact and collaborate effectively with patients, families, other health care and supportive staff both internal and external.

He/she initiates appropriate actions based on his/her observations of the patient's condition.

He/she requires minimal periodic of supervision by the RN and performs the functions listed below consistently with skill and effectiveness.

Duties include but are not limited to: Provide full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems, completing assigned duties which involve performing nonstandard and specialized practical nursing activities under the direction of the Registered Nurse.

Complete patient focused assessments, recognizing risk factors and/or signs and symptoms of withdrawal. Complete clinical reminders and reports of data findings to clinician, provider, or RN.

Administer medications and injections, observing and documenting patient response and reporting change in the patient's condition.

Perform urine specimen collections, breathalyzer and other point of care specimen collection as ordered. Label and stores lab specimens appropriately.

Participate in nursing reports and other care team meetings to ensure continuity in Veterans care that is provided in the mental health setting.

Implement patient/family teaching programs related to health promotion and reinforce instructions provided by the registered nurse and physician and documents in approved format.

Initiate therapeutic communications with Veterans and families utilizing formal and informal communication processes.

Participate in unit committees as directed, providing input and reporting outcomes to Registered Nurse.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm 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 off per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) 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) Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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