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. The LPN/LVN performs within this functional statement under frequent guidance of the Nurse Manager or designee. Assigned tasks require basic technical competence and skill. 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. 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-04 (a) 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-05 Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. 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. 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. Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardia and/or pulmonary arrest. Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies. GS-06 Proficiency 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. Ability to observe, identify, and response to a patient's needs for care including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education. Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for, documents, and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments. Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Acute care, Long term care, and/or Blind rehabilitation experience Tour Information: Sun-Mon with holidays and weekends **Night Shift** (3:30pm-12:00am) (11:00pm-8:00am) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.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: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Straight Pulling (up to 8 hours); Pushing (8 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); standing (up to 8 hours); Kneeling; Repeated bending (up to 8 hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other. This position will require standing and walking for extended periods of time as well as hearing and vision corrected to the near normal range. Ability to work outside in COVID swabbing tent when assigned to COVID duties. ["Respond to resident calls for assistance and address resident needs in a timely manner. Ensure proper identification of resident per policy before administering care. Willingly assist co-workers without being asked and work well as a team member. Actively participate in change of shift by communicating all pertain resident information to Team Leader, Charge Nurse or receiving shift. Assist registered nurse with admission, transfer, and discharge of residents. Completing duties as assigned and under the supervision of the registered nurse. Give bed bath, tub and shower baths, shampoo hair, trim nails and assist resident with grooming. H/she will consistently promote resident independence, rehabilitation and restorative nursing as the resident plan of care dictates. Give morning and evening care and teach personal hygiene. Provide and assist in oral hygiene and denture care. Change linen of occupied and unoccupied beds. Assist resident with bedpans and urinals. Feed residents; assist those who need help with eating. Change resident's position, maintain body alignment and take measures to prevent skin breakdown and/or deformity. Provide postmortem care. Apply and observe comfort and safety devices as directed by the registered nurse. Practice safety precautions according to written procedure in performance of duties when working with residents and resident's personal care devices, medication administration and unit equipment. Perform duties in a safe manner to prevent resident/employee accident/injury. Safely operate equipment such as specialized beds, prosthetic devices and suction machines. Utilize proper body mechanics, mechanical lifting devices and transfer aids when lifting and moving resident to prevent injury to self and others. Assist in maintaining a clean and orderly unit environment; keep supplies and equipment clean and in proper places, observe infection control guidelines, etc. He/she is expected to take personal accountability in reducing resident's risk of trips and falls by taking quick and immediate action to correct any environmental safety concerns. Utilize principles of infection control, cleanliness and hand washing to assure a safe, clean environment to prevent cross infections. Understand and utilize principles of Universal Precautions and type of isolation for protection of resident and/or self. Report faulty equipment or safety hazards. Be knowledgeable and correctly utilizes the RACE procedure during fire drills and emergency situations. Verbalizes the steps within the RACE procedure and his/her responsibility. Verbalize role of unit/staff in a disaster including recognition of disaster alarms/notification per policy. Also recognizing alternate power sources and mechanism to use on the event of utility system failure. Be knowledgeable in regards to the location of MSDS for all hazardous chemicals used within the assigned area and take appropriate action as needed to mitigate situation. Other duties as assigned"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.