Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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:

• To qualify for appointment to this position - all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• 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 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)
• 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
• 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 - 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
• 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 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
• GS-04 Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or 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 one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-4. AND - Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• 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 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-06: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN
• AND - 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
• 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
• 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
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: 1 year of bedside - skilled - or long-term care experience
• 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• The duties of this position include - but are not limited to: Nursing Practice/Technical Competence: Performance Standards: .Remains current on licensure requirements - basic life support - all TMS related mandatory education - including core LPN competencies.2
• Demonstrates nursing functions within scope of practice
• First line supervisor may be a non-RN or be an on-site or remote RN
• Demonstrates understanding of the effects and/or reactions caused by medications - treatments - and procedures
• Performs procedures appropriate to unit - such as ear lavages - Point of Care Testing - bladder scan - EKGs - suture/staple removal - with supervision of RN - LIP - or LPN 5/6
• Phlebotomy/Specimen Collection/Processing/Transport: Must be proficient in phlebotomy - being able to draw all but the most difficult patients and follow laboratory procedures for drawing blood
• In addition - develops and maintains the essential speed required to complete blood drawing duties in a timely manner
• The work environment involves a low to moderate frequency/high risk of exposure to potentially dangerous situations such as infectious diseases - demented and suicidal/homicidal patients - with associated risks
• The incumbent may encounter situations where physical attacks by patients requires safety training - specifically prevention and management of disruptive behavior
• Redirection - intervention - and mitigation of behaviors from patients may be required
• May perform basic laboratory procedures such as dip sticking of urines
• This includes entering results into the patient's Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Observation - Reporting - and Documentation: Performance Standards: Identifies physical and emotional changes in resident conditions
• Demonstrates practical knowledge of human behavior - motivation - and reactions to situations
• Reports these in a timely manner and initiates appropriate action within scope and experience
• Documents all interactions - observations - interventions - and outcomes in the Veteran's electronic health record
• Collects information about the whole person including the physical - psychological - social - cultural - and spiritual aspects of the person
• Maintaining a Safe and Therapeutic Environment Performance Standards: Maintains a safe - clean - therapeutic environment and adheres to infection control guidelines.2
• Prevents injury to self and others by complying with established safety procedures and uses proper body mechanics and transfer techniques to include use of safe resident handling and mobility equipment
• Practices aseptic techniques during sterile procedures
• Communication: Performance Standards: Recognizes that illness and/or hospitalization may cause fear and anxiety which residents may express in a variety of behaviors and can respond in an appropriate manner to those residents
• Can anticipate which circumstances or populations may increase the likelihood of fear or anxiety response and intervene appropriately
• Identifies age-specific or population-specific learning needs and provides resident education materials and documents teaching in the medical record
• Performance Standards: The LPN will verbalize and demonstrate a holistic approach while working with the residents such as Whole health strategies - Community Resources - and Veteran Service Organizations
• Attends and participates in interdisciplinary team meetings
• Participates in performance improvement activities as it relates to cultural transformation and team building
• Work Schedule: 6:00am -630pm - 6:00pm-0630am
• 06:00am - 2:30pm
• 10:00pm- 06:30am (PST) EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) Functional Statement #: 000000