Clarification from the agency

This announcement is limited to current Northern Arizona VA Health Care System permanent employees. SF-50 must be submitted as proof of current employment. If you are an external applicant, please apply to the external announcement: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/735783000

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This announcement covers vacancies in multiple units/clinics within the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, to include:

PRIMARY CARE: The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) within this clinic will directly support the physician or mid-level provider and demonstrate active collaboration with all members of the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). Duties will include, but not be limited to, rooming patients for PACT providers, performs vital signs, addresses health related clinical reminders, oxygen therapy, medication administration to include IV medication if certified, assist with minor procedures, and perform scrubbing of team-let schedule as per established practice. The LPN works under the direction of an RN and reports to the Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) manager or assistant nurse manager/RN supervisor if designated.

MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE: The Domiciliary LPN will primarily function as a 24/7 nurse independently and directly caring for residents on the unit including medication management and health education. Duties will include, but are not limited to, managing the medication window, collection urine for drug screens, rounding for safety and compliance with Domiciliary rules, providing therapeutic and appropriate medical responses to resident needs, managing mental health and medical crises, and notifying the RN in charge when a higher level of care is needed. The Domiciliary LPN will respond to a resident's emotional, functional, and psychological condition via appropriate measurement tools, document findings, and collaborate with members of the Domiciliary team to provide comprehensive care to residents.

GERIATRICS AND EXTENDED CARE/COMMUNITY LIVING CENTER (CLC): The LPN will primarily function as a 24/7 nurse independently and directly caring for residents on the unit; demonstrating sufficient knowledge of care appropriate to the adult and geriatric (65 & older) Veteran patient population. Duties will include, but are not limited to: (a) maintaining a safe environment using appropriate equipment, devices, and safety measures for all residents while demonstrating special awareness of the needs of all residents with impaired mobility; (b) working under the guidance of a RN and/or the medical staff; (c) demonstrating competency and possessing knowledge to appropriately determine clinical care needs, based upon residents' history or medical chart entries; (d) providing preventive health and chronic disease management, including resident education and screening inquiries allowed within the practice of nursing and approved by nursing and medical leadership; (e) having practical knowledge of human behavior, motivation and reactions to situations that may be of a chronic or acute nature; (f) taking necessary precautions to avoid the spread of illness or disease when administering care to residents; and (g) recognizing the need for optimal customer service and immediate service recovery to promote the perfect residents experience.


Work Schedule: This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 hospital. Some positions require rotation of tours or indefinite work on non-administrative tours as established by the immediate supervisor. Not all duties may be listed, so other duties may be assigned.
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.

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

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. United States Citizenship
• English Language. Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• 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. An LPN/LVN who has or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of 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. Additional information may also be obtained from the NLNAC Website. Exceptions include:
  1. 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.
  2. VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) 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.
  3. Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school.

• GS-3 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements above. 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.

• GS-4 Experience/Education: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN or
  • Education: Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
  • Combined Education & Experience: 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.
• GS-5 Experience: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the next lower level (GS-4). Additionally an LPN as this level will be able to demonstrate: knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems; 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 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; 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-6 Experience: 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. LPN must be technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing car to variable patient populations; Possess 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; Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs; Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures; Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations; Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations.

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, resume, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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.