Practical Nurse

Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This job will close when we have received 50 applications, which may be sooner than the closing date.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

- Provides direct patient care and clinical support within Ambulatory Care Specialty Medicine Clinics, including Pulmonary, Dermatology, Rheumatology, Neurology, Gastroenterology (GI), Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease.

- Responsibilities include patient intake, obtaining vital signs, completing assessments within LPN scope, administering medications, supporting specialty-related procedures, providing patient education, and working collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to promote continuity of care in the outpatient environment.

- Provides competent, evidence-based specialty care to assigned patients under the supervision and direction of an RN or provider within the Specialty Medicine clinics.

- Collaborates with and supports health technicians and medical instrument technicians within the clinic environment, offering guidance appropriate to the LPN scope of practice.

- Delivers direct patient care, including care coordination support, health promotion, and patient education on wellness, disease prevention, and chronic care management specific to specialty medicine conditions.

- Assists in staff orientation and ongoing competency reinforcement appropriate to the LPN role.

- Contributes to quality improvement activities and assists with tracking outcomes and improvement initiatives in the ambulatory care setting.

- Demonstrates leadership in delivering patient-centered, holistic specialty care through effective teamwork and consistent application of evidence-based practices.

- Participates in the evaluation of clinical practices by identifying opportunities for improvement and communicating recommendations to supervising RNs or providers.

- Provides informal, constructive feedback to peers to support professional development and enhance care delivery.

- Contributes to maintaining a safe, supportive, and professional clinical environment that fosters the growth and development of healthcare team members.

- Offers an LPN perspective during interdisciplinary team discussions related to patient care plans and clinic operations.

- Partners with colleagues to support positive change and contribute to optimal patient outcomes in ambulatory specialty services.

- Supports team members by sharing knowledge and reinforcing best practices to ensure high-quality, safe ambulatory nursing care.

- Shares educational findings, experiences, and innovative ideas with peers to advance practice within the specialty clinics.

- Questions existing clinical practices when appropriate and communicates concerns or suggestions to supervising RNs or providers to promote evidence-based improvements in outpatient care.

- Participates in activities and strategies that support and sustain a culture of evidence-based practice within the clinic.

- Performs additional duties as assigned, which may include patient intake, documentation, point-of-care testing, medication reconciliation, equipment preparation, and coordinating patient readiness for specialty procedures.

- This position may float to other Specialty Medicine clinics as operational needs arise, including Dermatology, Rheumatology, Neurology, GI, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE IS LISTED BELOW.

- Two years of experience as a Practical Nurse

- Experience in an outpatient Specialty Medicine or ambulatory care setting

- Pulmonary, Gastroenterology, or Specialty clinic experience highly preferred

- Strong background in fast-paced outpatient clinical environments

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 0730-1600

Location: 6900 N. Pecos Rd, North Las Vegas NV

Telework: Ad Hoc

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement: 08696F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure: Not required

Requirements

Help

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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Trial Period: As a condition of employment for accepting the position of LPN with the Department of Veterans Affairs, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider the following:
• 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.
• Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. If you do not receive certification for continued employment, you should receive written notice prior to the end of your trial period hat your employment will be terminated and the effective date of such termination.

Qualifications

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.
• Education or Training . Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State Agency and/or accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); OR Received health care education/training in the military service which is accepted by the licensing body in the jurisdiction in which the individual is licensed as qualified for full LPN/LVN licensure.
• 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. [NOTE: YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR LICENSE NUMBER OR SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR CURRENT LICENSURE WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE].
• English Language 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).

Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures.

GS-6: 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.

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 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, 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 or MD/DO.

5. 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.

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.

9. 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.

10. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

R eferences: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13 Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualifications Standard,

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.