Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens and other current permanent Federal Employees of other agencies.

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NOTE: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, CURRENT PERMANENT VA EMPLOYEES SHOULD APPLY TO ANNOUNCEMENT CBTC-11563501-22-TGP

The Licensed Practical Nurse engages in nursing care, which requires the knowledge and skills represented by licensure as an LPN. The LPN maintains acceptable standards of practice under the direction of a Registered Nurse. Assignments are limited to situations demanding an exceptional degree of practical nursing knowledge and skills. The LPN serves as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team with an assigned patient load.

Other duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides nursing care to patients in meeting personal hygiene needs such as bathing, lifting, turning and feeding; administers tube feeding via feeding pump and changes administration sets.
• Take vitals.
• Administer medication.
• Assists selected patients with rehabilitation such as range of motion, ambulation, positioning, and self-help activities of daily living; and bowel and bladder training programs.
• Enters information about the patient's condition, an assessment of the patient's condition and a plan of action to carry out nursing care.
• Measures and records vital signs, neuro checks, intake and output, weights; collects urine, stool, sputum and drainage specimens; measures and records PH from nasogastric tubes; measures and records urine specific gravity.
• Performs procedures such as application of external urinary catheters; routine Foley catheter care; irrigation of Foley catheters.
• Carries out respiratory treatments such as postural drainage, chest physiotherapy; sets up and initiates oxygen therapy, including nebulization treatments; performs oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal and tracheal suctioning, performs routine tracheostomy care, instructs patient in use of incentive spirometer; monitors and records observations of chest tubes and pleurovacs; assembles water-sealed chest drainage systems.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications, including PRN medication orders, after carefully assessing the patient's condition; observe effectiveness and document observations in the clinical record. Administer vaccines, reads and records PPD's.
• Assist with monitoring the patient's condition before, during and following the procedure.
• Applies knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices of procedures. Which include preparing the patient, assisting in the diagnostic examine, preparing and handing specialized instruments.
• Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patients' condition from prescribed medications/treatments, while promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting deviation from normal to RN or Provider.
• Monitors and regulates the flow of intravenous fluids manually or via infusion pumps and reports observations to the registered nurse; observes IV site for infiltration and inflammation and reports to the Registered Nurse; changes peripheral IV and saline lock dressings; changes IV solution administration sets following established protocols; discontinues peripheral intravenous catheters when authorized by the Registered Nurse; monitors and adds maintenance IV fluids (as approved) via mini-bags, prepared by pharmacy, through an existing peripheral line/saline lock.
• Responds appropriately to emergency situations such as cardiopulmonary arrest; provides for environmental safety, security and patient privacy, checks the code cart except for the weekly defibrillator check (done by the RN).
• Assists physicians and nurses with patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; accompanies patients off units for appointments as necessary.
• Observes patient's changing conditions and provides specialized care to patients who may be helpless, comatose, and/or critically ill, including the patient on a ventilator; uses judgment in adapting and varying procedures and/or approaches based on patient's current condition, and in accordance with appropriate nursing care and prescribed medical treatment, may direct non-professional nursing personnel of lower grade level.
• Participates in patient care planning conferences contributing to the identification of patient problems/needs; updates care plans and reflecting current patient status in collaboration with the Registered Nurse; provides report on assigned patients; participates and documents in providing patient/family education.
• Documents all patient observations and procedures performed on appropriate forms.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.
• 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; or Health care education in the military service or training in the military which is accepted by the licensing body in the jurisdiction in which the individual is licensed as qualifying for full LPN/LVN licensure; or Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school.
• Licensure: Candidates must be currently licensed to practice as practical or vocational nurse in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia, and must possess current, full active and unrestricted license registration of said license.
• English Language Proficiency: Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 USC 7402(d) and 7407 (d). (No person that is not proficient in spoken and written English will be appointed under authority of 38 USC Chapter 73 or 74 to serve in a direct patient-care capacity.

• None beyond the basic requirements listed above.

• Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN; 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.

• Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-04 level or equivalent 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.

• Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-05 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the LPN 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.
• Ability 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 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 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.

• 2-3 Years of Acute Care Experience
• 1-2 Years Outpatient Clinic Experience
• BLS

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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.