Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. This position is open to all citizens of the United States and its territories.

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The Licensed Practical Nurse works under the direction of an RN and reports to the Community Living Center Nurse Manager. The LPN is 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 care plan for life. The LPN is a member of the larger Team. The LPN requires a general review of their work by Community Living Center Nurse Manager for appropriateness and conformity with license, policies, and procedures. The LPN demonstrates active collaboration and communication with the Long term Care Provider, Long Term care RN Care Manager, Nursing Assistants, and the family/caregiver, internal and community-based services and disciplines involved in providing care to the patient.

• Makes observations and thoroughly documents care and the patient's response. Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing the CLC RN Care Manager, CLC Nurse Manager, or medical provider of changes in the patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention.
• Performs, reports, and records assigned nursing care in the Community Living Centers, including, but not limited to: oxygen therapy, medication administration, clinical reminders as indicated, checking expiration dates of meds and supplies, delegated procedures and treatments, documentation, EKGs as indicated, and diagnostic procedures such as EKGs, vital signs and blood glucose testing
• Adheres to standards of practice and safe technique in preparation and administration of medication.
• Demonstrates understanding of age- and population-specific characteristics that affect the health care needs of the Veteran.
• Promptly recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations, seeks assistance, and effectively intervenes as directed when appropriate.
• Based on the patient's goals, provides patient and family health education, to include self-management, prevention, and wellness.
• Interacts and communicates appropriately with patients and family members.
• Demonstrates professional behavior (i.e., respect, civility, ability to accept constructive criticism), effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Promotes a positive patient- centered environment.
• Adheres to principles of infection control, safety, and universal precautions.
• Incumbent possesses knowledge of proper handling and pre-cleaning of reusable medical equipment.
• Demonstrates competence utilizing special equipment needed to perform job duties.
• Follows policy and procedures related to fire and disaster drills, safety, and security measures.
• Demonstrates initiative in assisting the functioning of the Community Living Centers.
• Assists in the orientation and competency validation of students, peers, and clerical staff.
• Maintains confidentiality of electronic, written, and/or verbal patient information.
• Maintains a work environment that honors diversity.
• Serves as a resource and advocate in the protection of patient and family rights.
• Completes mandatory reviews, including motivational interviewing, in order to promote patient self-management toward individualized life plan of care.
• Supports patient-driven care in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner, using evidence-based principles.
• Promotes patient and personnel safety.
• Participates in the interdisciplinary team in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the patient's/resident's treatment plan.
• Observes, identifies, and responds to the patient's needs for nursing, medication, and equipment assisted care and recognizes deviations from normal.
• Uses practical nursing knowledge of human behavior, motivations, and reactions to situations in working with patients, family, and other staff members.
• Demonstrates knowledge, skill, and ability to recognize and respond appropriately to emergency situations.
• Member of the team and may collaborate with services internal and external to the VA to facilitate care transition to effectively meet the patient's/resident's needs. The LPN performs health education and basic health coaching to promote patient-driven goal setting and patient/resident activation for selfcare and self-management.
• Responsible for demonstrating the knowledge and practice of providing nursing care based on the four (4) performance standards/competencies, nursing care; safety; interpersonal communication; and customer service.

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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.
• English Language: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
• Experience, Education, or Training: Six months of general experience. (Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of an NA); OR one year above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year which resulted in attaining certification as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3
• 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).

• Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; OR
• Graduate of 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.

• 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.
• Demonstrated knowledge and 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 and 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. This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting 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 resuscitation procedures 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.

• 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, using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments, and accurately recognizing, reporting, and recording 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 a 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, 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, seeking assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO, and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations and the 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, 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 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 includes preparing the patient and 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.

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.