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Licensed Practical Nurse

Veterans Health Administration | Charleston, SC

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Posted Date 12/17/2024
Description 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.




Total Rewards: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf
Licensed Practical Nurse - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-LPN-Career-Flyer.pdf

Duties included, but not limited to:
  • Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular) and performs treatments according to established policies and procedures.
  • Observes for changes in patient condition, caused by medications, treatments, and procedures.
  • Records and reports these observations and reports any deviation from normal to the MD/PA/NP/RN.
  • Accurately documents prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies and procedures.
  • Documents patient's responses to medications/treatments received.
  • Preforms patient blood collection, when necessary, utilizing proper selection and use of equipment/supplies.
  • Follows all policies and procedures regarding appropriate specimen collection, laboratory results, critical values/parameters and follow up protocols in collaboration with providers.
  • Participates in performance improvement activities.
  • Completes unresolved clinical reminders on patients who present to their area for check-in.
  • Consistently communicates with patients/families/co-workers and the general public in a courteous, tactful and helpful manner. Both oral and written communications are provided promptly and are responsive to the customer's needs.
  • Completes additional duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm, 8:00am-4:30pm or 8:30am-5:00pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
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)
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 #: 58327F, 58328F, 58329F, 58330F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedBasic 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). Exceptions include:
    • Health care education in the military service or training in the military service.
    • VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 or converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, and for their future personnel actions under this authority.
    • Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school.
  • License: 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 of District of Columbia.
Grade Determinations:
GS-03 None beyond the basic requirements listed above.

GS-04
You must meet one of the criteria below:
  • 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.

GS-05
  • Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-05 you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04)
AND
GS-05 Knowledge, skills and abilities, that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume:
  • 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 experience 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 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, 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 changes in the 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 cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest.
  • Recognize and appropriately respond 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
  • Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-06 you must have completed 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
AND
GS-06 Knowledge, skills and abilities, that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume:
  • 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.
  • 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: Specialty Clinic/Inpatient/Nursing Home experience; 3-5 years Adult Nursing experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment or assisting patients.IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Salary41,542.00 - 65,789.00 Annual
Opportunity Type
Job

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