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The LPN/LVN is assigned to a patient care area, observes and interviews patients and significant others to gather data for reporting and/or documentation according to policy and standards. The LPN/LVN recognizes and reports to RN immediately signs and symptoms of emergencies such as evisceration, hemorrhage, shock, coma, seizure, and airway obstruction.

The LPN/LVN provides patient care and administers medications and treatments as per provider order or protocol, responsible for the storage, proper cleaning techniques, and use of reusable medical equipment (RME). He/she must be able to locate the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all RME in the clinical area. She/he is responsible for carrying out proper procedures for caring for patients in an isolation environment by following proper infection control procedures.

• Communicates regularly with nurse managers, physicians, nursing supervisors, charge nurses, allied healthcare staff, healthcare technicians, pharmacists, social workers, dietitians and team members.
• Includes in documentation, the patients' responses to medication administered and patient activity/therapies. Reporting of noted changes/responses is directly to the RN or MD/DO/provider.
• Works with the RN and/or physician to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or nursing assistants/patient care assistants in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
• Prepares and administers oral, rectal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous medications (except research/investigation) including insertion of medication into the eye, ear, nose, bladder, rectum, and vagina; and performs TB or cocci skin testing; gives allergy and flu injections; accurately assesses the need for PRN medications; prepares, administers, and evaluates responses; documents effectiveness of pain interventions with patient's perception.
• Initiates corrective action for patient needs, requests, complaints, progress and/or problems.
• Initiates emergency procedures for which the employee is trained and reports actual and potential safety hazards within the workplace.
• Follows all safety procedures and wears protective clothing as appropriate. Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills with both internal and external customers.
• Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.
• Uses the Computerized Patient Record System; attend classes as needed to maintain currency in computerized record documentation.
• Attends in-services on all new equipment and/or equipment that has changed or demonstrated a hazard. Serves as a responsible member of the health care team and demonstrates appropriate interactions.
• Adheres to established lines of authority and communication. Cooperates with team members.
• Attends and contributes to unit staff meetings.
• Participates in interdisciplinary patient care conferences, and provide information and feedback Contributes to supportive environment when floating to other areas.
• Accepts challenges and responds productively to change. Provides support to others in their work.
• Uses creative approaches in completion of work assignments Participates in performance improvement activities.
• Responds to patient safety needs and environmental cleanliness. Maintains a consistent work schedule.

Required to be skilled in interpersonal effectiveness. The LPN/LVN promotes service to internal and external customers. He/she treats customers with dignity and respect, acknowledges customers and responds quickly to customer needs.

Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication, and socialization skills.
Incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members, and/or other internal/external customers.

Displays a helpful proactive attitude towards customers by answering questions and assisting to resolve problems to the customer's satisfaction.

Responds to patient/significant other, visitor and/or staff in a courteous manner,
communicates/demonstrates acceptance of patient/family's beliefs, culture, religion and socioeconomic background, communicates information in a calm, pleasant non-judgmental, non-threating manner.

Work Schedule: Typical shifts are 0800-1630 or 0730-1600 M-F but days and shift hours may be altered depending on managerial decisions.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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.
• Must possess a current, full, active and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical nurse or vocational nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.
• Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN formerly called NLNAC). 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.
• BLS per local facility policy.
• Ability to perform venipuncture in lab setting

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).

Preferred Experience:

• PACT/Primary Care experience
• Ability to respond to the patient, significant other, visitor, and/or staff needs in a courteous professional manner.
• Demonstrated ability to perform duties in accordance with Joint Commission Standards and Nursing Standards of Care.
• 2 years clinical LPN experience with evidence of good clinical skills.
• Ability to easily establish and maintain good interpersonal relationships and communication with physicians, staff, patients, and their significant others.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Basic computer knowledge and skills are required.

Grade Determinations:

1. Qualifying experience is successful nursing practice as an LPN/LVN, maintaining acceptable standards within a health care setting under the direction of a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO). This may include experience as a GPN or GVN (graduate practical or vocational nurse) provided the candidate was utilized as a practical or vocational nurse and passed the State licensure examination on the first attempt.
2. To be creditable, practical nursing experience (as an LPN or LVN) must be documented on the application and verified in an employment reference or through other independent means.
3. Part-time experience is credited according to the relationship it bears to the full-time workweek (e.g., an LPN/LVN who worked 20 hours per week, i.e., half-time, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of such service.)
4. The only exception to paragraphs 3a (1) through (3) would be qualifying experience for GS-4. See paragraph 3b(2)(b) below.
For the purposes of qualifications, the term "State" includes States, Territories of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
b. Grade Determination. 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.
(1) GS-3. None beyond the basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher-level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved.
(2) GS-4. Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria in paragraphs 3b(2)(a) through (c) 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.
(3) 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 enough 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.


References:
American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses. 2001 Rules of the Arizona State Board of Nursing, July 25, 2014
VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13, Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Standards, April 15, 2003


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

Physical Requirements:

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.