Summary

We are excited to announce that the Fayetteville VA Medical Center is hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse for our Community Living Center; The License Practical Nurse functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists the Registered Nurse with providing safe and individualized nursing care to patients in the Community Living Center - Hospice and Rehabilitation

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:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Noncitizen may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part
• 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
• Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency [or] the National League for Nursing [Accrediting Commission] - 61 Broadway - 33rd Floor - New York - NY 10006 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-3.None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4.Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria below: (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• or (b) 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 (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• (d) 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-5. (a) Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent (b) 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.] (c) 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
• (d) 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
• (e) 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
• (f) Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• (g) 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.(a) 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
• (b) Technically proficient in initiating - performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• (c) 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
• (d) 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
• (e) 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
• (f) 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
• (g) 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
• (h) 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
• (i) 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
• (j) Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• References: VA Handbook 5005/3 - Part II - Appendix G13
• Dated - April 2003.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

Duties

• The Licensed Practical Nurse provides safe and individualized nursing care to patients in the Community Living Center and Hospice/Rehabilitation settings
• He/she can interact and collaborate effectively with patients - families - other health care and supportive personnel
• He/she can initiate appropriate actions based on his/her observations of the patient's condition
• He/she is responsible for delivering safe physical and emotional care to patients with increasingly complex needs - in a variety of settings - while enhancing technical skills
• he LPN is characterized by the following: Demonstrates proficiency in initiating - performing and completing assigned duties while providing care to diverse patient populations
• Maintains knowledge and ability to carry out patient care determined by the patient's condition utilizing judgement in selecting appropriate orders - procedures - and treatments
• and recognizing - reporting - and recording relevant patient information to include urgent and emergent situations
• Observes - identifies - and responds to patient needs for medication - medical equipment - and patient/family education while considering emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic and age-related factors
• Maintains knowledge and skill 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
• Establishes constructive and positive relationships with patients/families in order to promote open communication and socialization skills - taking into consideration human behavior - patient motivators and reactions to situations
• Respects patient/family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery by incorporating customer service standards with all interactions - to include both internal and external customers
• Maintains knowledge and skill for performing support duties during complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures
• Serves as a preceptor in orienting - educating - and training less experienced LPNs - Nursing Assistants (NA's) - Health Technicians (HT's) and provides support for more complex - specialized procedures
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge/skills and shares knowledge with peers to advance nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: Hospice or Long Term Care experience preferred
• Work Schedule: 7:45 am - 8:15 pm / 12 hour shifts - alternating weekends
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required