Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to US Public Citizens and other Federal Agency employees. Current permanent Oklahoma City VA, Department of Veterans Affairs Employees and upcoming Health Professional Trainees please apply on announcement number CBSU-12248556-24-OYM

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The primary purpose of the LPN/LVN is to perform assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, positive customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran. The LPN/LVN also performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, outstanding customer service, and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran.

Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Patient Care: This element demonstrates the direct care provided for the veteran patient. The LPN/LVN will demonstrate nursing specific skills within the scope of an LPN/LVN.
• Works under the direct supervision of the Nurse Manager; however, the Registered Nurse or physician provides work assignments designating general instructions regarding patients.
• Demonstrate nursing specific skills within the scope of license.
• Responsible for observing, recording, and reporting changes in the patient's condition, as well as assisting in the development and revision of the patient-driven holistic life care plan.
• Demonstrates active collaboration, communication and problem solving with the interdisciplinary and Care Team (Patient, Licensed Independent Provider, Pharmacist, RN, and Medical Support Assistant) and Expanded Care Team (family/caregiver, internal and community-based services involved in providing care to the patient).
• Participates with interdisciplinary team meetings to determine alternative care plans for veterans.
• Plans, implement nursing care, problem solves and modifies care independently utilizing previous experience, policies and procedures, and standards of care as a basis for decision making.
• Support organizational mission and staffing needs throughout the facility as necessary during natural, man-made, pandemic or emergency situations.
• Will be assigned to assist other units/clinics as needed and supports the team in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing staff of non-medical staff to ensure safe patient care delivery.
• Technically proficient in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations and assists other staff.
• Utilizing computer programs required for the position.
• Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education. In organizing and delivering care, recognizes and considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors.
• Utilizing principles of aseptic technique, universal precautions, and isolations requirements.
• Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed educations/treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.
• 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.
• Taking and recording in the medical record: vital signs, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, pulse oximeter, temperate, pain score, weight, and neurological check.
• Consistently demonstrates 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.
• Aware of and adhere to the Safe Patient Handling policies and procedures.
• Adhere to the rights of medication administration (1) Right Patient, (2) Right medication, (3) Right dose, (4) Right route, (5) Right time, (6) Right documentation.
• Provides patient education of prescribed medication.
• Provides educational material to veterans, family, and caregiver as needed.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team (IDT) meetings in assisting with nursing care plan.
• Other duties as assigned

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:

Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States.

English 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:
(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) 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.
(3) Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school. See paragraph 4, section C.

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.

Grade Determinations: 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.

GS-3
None beyond basic requirements.

GS-4
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-5
Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent.
AND
1) Demonstrates knowledge & ability to provide full range of practical nursing care to patients w/ a variety of physical &/or behavioral problems. Works w/ RN &/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs &/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 &/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, &/or prescribed treatment regimes.
2) Demonstrates ability to serve as a responsible member of nursing team & interact in an appropriate manner w/ patients, family members, professional & supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice.
3) Knowledge & skill sufficient to prepare, administer, & appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, &/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies & procedures. Observation & documentation will include patient's response to medication administered & the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to RN or MD/DO.
4) Knowledge & ability to recognize the need for & to institute emergency measures when indicated, promptly seek the assistance of RN or MD/DO, & assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac &/or pulmonary arrest.
5) Recognizes & appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, & supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.

GS-6
Completion of at least one year of additional qualifying specialized experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN.
AND
1) Technically proficient in initiating, performing & completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.
2) Knowledge & ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order & sequence of procedures and treatments; & accurately recognize, report & record relevant patient information. Completed work should need only a general review by a RN or a MD/DO, for appropriateness & conformity w/ established policies/procedures.
3) Ability to observe, identify & respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care & patient/family education. In organizing and delivering care, the LPN/LVN recognizes & considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, & age-related factors.
4) Prepares & administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular &/or intravenous) & performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for physical &/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly & accurately documenting noted changes, & reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.
5) Knowledge & ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN &/or MD/DO, & initiates appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
6) Knowledge & understanding of human behavior, patient motivations & reactions to situations, & ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively w/ patients, family members, & staff.
7) Establishes constructive relationships with patients & their families to elicit feelings & attitudes, & to promote positive relationships, communication & socialization skills. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient & family rights to privacy & dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Effectively incorporates knowledge & understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions w/ patients, family members, & other internal/external customers.
8) Knowledge & skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests & specialized practices or procedures, which include preparing the patient, assisting in the diagnostic examination, preparing and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment, & monitoring the patient's condition before, during, & following the procedure. Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, & training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex, specialized tests/procedures.
9) Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained w/ other staff to improve & advance nursing practice.

References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13

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.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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.