Summary

This Licensed Practical Nurse position is located within the VA Providence Healthcare System (VAPHCS) located at the Middletown Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). This is a full-time position at 40 hours per week.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Licensed practical/vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken & written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Licensure
• Full - active - current & unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical/vocational nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or District of Columbia
• Education
• Graduate of a school of practical/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
• 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
• 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. 7401/7405 after these conversions
• Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• See paragraph 4 - section C
• 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-3 None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 Experience
• Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN/LVN
• OR - Education
• Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• OR - Education/Experience Combination
• Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) & 1 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
• GS-5 Experience
• Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills & Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge - Skills - & Abilities: 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 & 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 & skill sufficient to prepare - administer - & appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies & procedures
• Observation & documentation will include patient's response to medication administered & 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 & assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognizes & 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 Experience
• Completion of at least 1 year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills & Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge - Skills - & Abilities: 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 & respond to the patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment-assisted care & patient/family education
• In organizing & delivering care - the LPN/LVN recognizes & considers emotional - socio-economic - and age-related factors
• Prepares & administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) & performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments - promptly & accurately documenting noted changes - & reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO
• Knowledge & ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO - & initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed
• Knowledge & understanding of human behavior - patient motivations & reactions to situations - & 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 - & to promote positive relationships - communication & socialization skills
• Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient & family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery
• Effectively incorporates knowledge & 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 & handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment - & monitoring the patient's condition before - during - & following the procedure
• Serves as a preceptor in orienting - educating - & training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex - specialized tests/procedures
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge & skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.

Duties

• The Licensed Practical Nurse is held accountable for delivering direct patient care to adult through geriatric aged patients
• He/she recognizes the age-related needs and demonstrates knowledge and care appropriate to that age group
• He/she considers the cognitive - physical - emotional - and chronological maturation needs of the patients - demonstrates competence and correctly provides appropriate care for that age group or groups
• VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include - but are not limited to: Serves as an active member of the healthcare team with professional and supportive personnel
• Attends meeting with the inter-disciplinary treatment team and contributes to the development and changes in the comprehensive treatment plans
• Demonstrates the ability to vary the order and sequence of assigned procedures based on the knowledge of the patient's condition
• Assumes the responsibility for patients - in accordance with TJC Standards and recommendations - with the RN ultimately responsible
• Identifies environmental hazards and initiates appropriate intervention
• Adheres to safety regulations and infection control practices as outlined in the policy and procedure manuals
• Uses proper body mechanics
• Serves as an active member of the healthcare team with professional and supportive personnel
• Attends meeting with the inter-disciplinary treatment team and contributes to the development and changes in the comprehensive treatment plans
• Demonstrates the ability to vary the order and sequence of assigned procedures based on the knowledge of the patient's condition
• Assumes the responsibility for patients - in accordance with TJC Standards and recommendations - with the RN ultimately responsible
• Identifies environmental hazards and initiates appropriate intervention
• Adheres to safety regulations and infection control practices as outlined in the policy and procedure manuals
• Provides input into the development of policies and procedures to support patient safety
• Takes proper precautions to prevent injury to self - patients and others
• Identifies and reports unsafe conditions to appropriate officials
• Observes standard precautions
• Performs safe set-up - reprocessing and maintenance/cleaning for reusable medical equipment according to manufacturer's instructions
• Other duties as assigned
• 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 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 #: 650-F05308/F05309/F05310/F50311 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Due to a critical staffing shortage - 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• This position is a LIUNA Bargaining Unit position
• This position is covered by a special rate
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.