Summary

The Licensed Practical Nurse - LPN provides nursing care - under the supervision of a Registered Nurse who coordinates veteran care. The LPN is skilled in managing simple to complex nursing tasks independently for diverse patient populations. They serve on the health care team - providing regular care - and seek guidance when needed to ensure quality care.

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-3. None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4. Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• OR Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) 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
• GS-5. Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• Along with meeting the requirement listed above - applicants must meet all of the following: Demonstrated knowledge and ability to 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
• GS-6. 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
• Along with meeting the requirement listed above - applicants must meet all of 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
• 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
• Knowledge and 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 and 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 - and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex - specialized tests/procedures
• Preferred Experience: Long-term care experience of 2 - 3 years
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Applicants must possess the ability to do the following: heavy lifting and carrying - 45 pounds and over
• pulling - pushing and reaching above the shoulder
• walking - standing - kneeling and repeated bending.

Duties

• The Licensed Practical Nurse - LPN provides nursing care in accordance with duties - knowledge - and the skills identified in this functional statement as outlined in VA Handbook 5005/3
• The LPN functions under the direct supervision of the Registered Nurse - RN who is responsible for the coordination of veteran care
• The LPN has the knowledge and skills necessary for self-direction in carrying out simple to the most complex practical nursing care assignments for variable patient populations requiring skilled nursing care
• The incumbent serves as a member of the health care team with selected patients and provides care to them on a regular and recurring basis
• The LPN completes assigned duties and responsibilities which require a broad work experience
• Recurring duties are carried out independently
• The LPN recognizes the need for and seeks guidance when necessary to ensure quality veteran care
• In organizing the delivery of care - the LPN recognizes and considers emotional - cultural - spiritual - and age-related factors
• The LPN actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• MAJOR DUTIES: include but not are limited to: 1
• Be technically proficient in initiating - performing - and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• 2
• Use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments 3
• Uses knowledge to appropriately carry out assigned patient care - with only a general review by the RN for the appropriateness and conformity of the care with established policies and procedures
• 4
• Provides direct nursing care to veterans in a variety of healthcare settings
• 5
• Demonstrating knowledge to provide a full range of practical nursing care to veterans with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• 6
• Demonstrating ability to serve as a responsible member of the health care team and interact with veterans - significant others - and co-workers
• 7
• Documenting care provided - observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms
• 8
• Observing changes in veteran's condition - e.g
• behavior shifts - mood changes - skin coloring - appetite - medication side effects etc
• 9
• Assuring receipt of adequate nutritional intake either through observation - feeding or properly positioning and checking placement of feeding tube for the veteran
• 10
• Administering medications - stoma care - e.g
• tracheotomy - suctioning - colostomy - enemas - skin care - simple dressing - braces and prosthetic devices
• Monitors intake and output according to established policy and procedure
• 11
• Recognizing the veteran's autonomy and promoting independence by means of respect - limit setting and individualized treatment
• 12
• Serves as team leader to a group of veterans and direct care staff - observing nursing care delivered and reporting concerns to the charge nurse
• 13
• Reinforces medication education and age-related healthcare education to veterans in relations to common disease processes - medications - and/or prescribed treatment regimes
• 14
• Do dressing
• Work Schedule: Evenings - 4:00pm to Midnight
• This shift may include weekends and holidays
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station PCS: Not Authorized