Licensed Vocational Nurse - HDOM

Summary The VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) is seeking to hire a Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse for the Homeless Domiciliary (HDOM) in Dallas - TX. 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) and 7407(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 to this requirement listed under the Education section 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 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) Grade Determinations: GS-03 - None beyond the basic requirements GS-04 - Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN OR 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 Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration GS-05 - Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent 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 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-06 - 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 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 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) 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 - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO - and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed 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 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 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 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 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is 06 The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 03 to 06 Preferred Experience: 3-5 years of prior experience in a hospital-based observation unit or similar fast-paced clinical environment 3-5 years of experience caring for patients with complex or rapidly changing medical conditions 3-5 years of experience in medication administration in high volume or time sensitive settings 3-5 years of experience using electronic health records (CPRS) - including documentation and order review 3-5 years of experience working in a team nursing model supporting RNs with assessments - discharges - and patient flow 3-5 years of experience providing care or support for patients with mental health needs in either outpatient or inpatient services. Duties VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: Licensed Practical Nurse - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-LPN-Career-Flyer.pdf Assigned tasks are performed in accordance with established policies - procedures - and techniques Guidelines are available in the form of procedures manuals that cover the nursing care provided Major Duties and Responsibilities for DCHV/HDOM PRN LVN Position but are not limited to: Obtains and documents vital signs - neurological checks - circulatory assessments - and intake/output measurements Observes and reports changes in patient condition to the RN or provider Provides supportive - therapeutic interactions that maintain dignity and respect for each Veteran Administers permitted medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular) according to facility policy Monitors and documents patient responses to medication and promptly reports abnormalities Uses clinical judgment to prioritize daily patient care tasks based on patient needs and changing unit conditions Assists in updating care plans as directed by the RN or provider Recognizes urgent situations and seeks assistance from licensed personnel to initiate appropriate interventions Accurately documents all patient care activities in CPRS Reports equipment malfunction - environmental safety hazards - or supply shortages to the appropriate personnel Provides education to Veterans and families regarding medications - basic care expectations - and safety practices Supports an environment of trust - positive communication - and therapeutic engagement Functions as a responsible member of the nursing team and collaborates with interdisciplinary staff Assists in orienting and supporting new LVNs and support staff as assigned Participates in ongoing training to enhance skills and knowledge Works assigned 8/12-hour shifts - which may include weekends or holidays - based on patient care needs Adjusts to changing operational demands within the HDOM unit Work Schedule:12 HR shifts - days & evenings - May be required to work other shifts - be on call - work weekends and/or holidays as patient care and needs of the service require Should operational needs dictate - candidates must be willing to work within other units (including community based outpatient clinics - for example) to assist and support continuation of the provision of care/services 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 Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 52824-F - 52825-F -52826-F - 52827-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs