Licensed Practical Nurse

Location for this position is at the CODY, WY CBOC.

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) are technically proficient in initiating, performing, and completing a broad range of practical nursing care assignments to acutely and chronically ill patients with medical and psychiatric illnesses that usually change within a predicable range within the Sheridan VAHCS.

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 Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

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 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 OR granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVN.

Licensure - Active, full, current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, 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-03 None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-04
Experience/Education: 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.

GS-5
Experience: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. 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, NP, and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs)/Intermediate Care Technicians (ICTs) 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.
2. 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.
3. 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, NP, or MD/DO.
4. Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated, promptly seek the assistance of the RN, NP, or MD/DO, and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest.
5. Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.
6. Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN, NP, 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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.
2. 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; and to accurately recognize, report and record relevant] patient information. Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures.
3. 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/LVN recognizes and considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors.
4. 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, NP, or MD/DO.
5. Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN, NP, and/or MD/DO, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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/LVNs or NAs/HTs/ICTs 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 with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/3 PART II APPENDIX G13

Responsibilities:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Clinical Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Accurately collects, reports, and records appropriate patient care data to contribute to the nursing assessment.
• Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team; understands patients' biopsychosocial needs for the purpose of providing care and input to treatment plans.
• Identifies and reports signs and symptoms of deviation from normal health status and changes in patient condition.
• Is able to identify potential suicide risks in patients and reports to RN or provider.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications in accordance with established policy and procedure and observes, reports, and documents patients' response to medications. Establishes effective and therapeutic relations with and proves nursing care to acute and chronically ill patients with both medical and mental health conditions.
• Recognizes expected outcomes of interventions and reports, records, and exchanges information with members of the treatment team.
• Reinforces and reiterates instructions previously presented by a Registered Nurse or providers. Promotes environmental safety, security, and patient confidentiality. Recognizes and reports unsafe equipment or situations and follows policy and procedure to assure personal and patient safety during patient care activities.
• Maintains therapeutic interpersonal relationships with patients and co-workers.
• Participate in and adapt to an ever- changing health care environment.
• Conducts reassessments and inspections according to policy, such as skin, pain fall and PRN, without waiting for RN to direct.
• Performs procedures in the outpatient clinic setting within the scope of practice of a LPN such as simple spirometry, home oxygen certification, and vaccine administration. May perform phlebotomy functions if appropriately qualified to do so.
• Serves as a resource for lower grade LPNs.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Enters specific information into the patient's electronic record using appropriate formats, medical terminology, and templates. This information must be entered in a complete, confidential, and professional manner to ensure information on the patient is shared with other VA staff. This information is to be reviewed on a regular basis.
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Attendance of all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, other committees as appropriate, etc.) is necessary.
• Identifies process and quality improvement opportunities and contributes to changes in processes through data collection.
• Additional duties may be required to be performed, as needed.

Schedule: This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments as this is a 24/7 medical center. Some positions require rotation of tours or indefinite work on non-administrative tours as established by the immediate supervisor. Incumbent may be asked to travel to cover in other areas or clinics and must possess and maintain a valid state issued drivers license. Self-motivated in the pursuit of meeting professional work standards.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 59887-A, 59888-A, 59889-A, 59890-A

Salary : $417