Practical Nurse

Summary

This Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) position is located within the VA Community Living Center (CLC) at Wilmington VA Medical Center - Wilmington - DE. The LPN assigned to the CLC is an active member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team that provides care to Veterans at the Wilmington VAMC. The GS-7 LPN must demonstrate an exceptional degree of practical nursing knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and self-direction to provide care for a medically complex Veteran population.

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
• 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
• 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 - VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 - enacted November 21 - 1983 - and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 - enacted October 28 - 1986
• and for their future personnel actions under this authority
• The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions
• OR - Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• 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
• 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)
• 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: The GS-7 grade level is for select - complex LPN/LVN positions - as established by each health care facility
• To be advanced - employees must meet all of the following standards - provided the standard is part of their assignment
• Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent - fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN
• Skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties - including assignments in selected - more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings
• Knowledge base promotes the incorporation of current patient care data in actively contributing to the development of the patient's overall health plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions
• Positions at this grade level require broader knowledge and skills because supervision is more general and employees are expected to be involved to a greater degree in the development and modification of treatment plans
• Assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery
• Makes astute observations of subtle - less obvious changes - both physical and emotional - in patient's condition - and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patient's response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient's care plan
• Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention
• At this grade level - the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing - and - as appropriate - modifying patient care treatment
• They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations
• Proactively assist the RN or MD/OD in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments - accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments and appropriately recording patient's response to medications/treatments received
• (This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions - promptly inform the RN or MD/DO of observed changes in patient's condition and initiate appropriate - prescribed interventions
• Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels
• Skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO for appropriate team intervention and effectively intervene - as directed - to assure the continuation of optimal - safe and therapeutic patient care delivery
• At this grade level - the LPN/LVN must have a broader knowledge of the patient treatment process and exercise judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate
• Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting health lifestyles for more positive outcomes
• Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with patients and/or family members who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control - resistant or abusive behaviors - or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions
• This includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervision
• Exhibits skill - creativity - and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces - research projects or in developing educational materials/media
• Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice
• Possesses comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices to serve as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care
• Serves as a role model and mentor to other nursing staff in the application of more complex technology - effectively guiding and directing their continuing practice in these areas
• Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery
• Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO
• In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level - the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff
• Work of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervision
• Individuals in these positions are - to a considerable extent - expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles - art and science of practical nursing
• The staff mix is such that employees at this grade level are expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under very general supervision
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: 3 years LPN experience
• Extensive experience in long term care - geriatrics or similar settings
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 7
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 7.

Duties

• The CLC LPN is accountable for delivering resident care to the adult/geriatric resident population with varying diagnoses and treatments
• He/she carries out assignments under the direction and supervision of the registered nurse
• The LPN exercises judgment within the scope of training and experience
• The work involves a sequence of duties requiring the employee to set priorities and determine the proper nursing procedures
• The CLC provides care to resident's needing skilled nursing and rehabilitation services including those needing complex wound care and wound VAC therapy - intravenous (IV) antibiotics - and medications - enteral feeding via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes - and jejunostomy (J) tubes - respiratory treatments and pulmonary supported care including CP AP and BiPAP for sleep apnea diagnosis's - monitoring glucoses in brittle diabetics - and support for those needing comfort and end of life care - as well as providing restorative services - long term maintenance care - hospice and palliative care and respite caregiver relief care
• The Veteran population may be managed for a variety of illnesses including - though not limited to surgical follow up care - oncology syndromes - traumatic brain injury - psychiatric diagnoses - chronic lung diseases - chronic renal failure - diabetes and diabetic wounds - complex wound care - cardiac disease including coronary disease - infarction - congestive heart failure - vascular disease - strokes - sequelae - neurologic injury - dysphagia - impaired speech - infectious diseases - and new/complex ostomy care
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Prepare and administer prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - Intramuscular - and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• The LPN/L VN observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's health condition - which may include prescribed medications/treatments - to promptly and accurately documenting identified changes - and reporting any deviations from normal to RN/HCP
• Promote and demonstrate nursing concepts in the Medical Center
• Works in collaboration with the Registered Nurse (RN) - and or Health Care Provider (HCP)
• Support the team in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing staff or non-medical staff to ensure safe patient care delivery
• Function independently as the Team Leader - with limited supervision of the charge nurse - for a designated group of residents
• May assist with charge nurse responsibilities in the Community Living Center
• Perform nursing care to the unit's Veterans - including all aspects of personal care and grooming and perform rehabilitative and restorative nursing care as applicable
• Independently provide accurate observations and documentation for new admissions - post-procedures - immediate post-operative - post-traumatic - and/or unstable residents
• Take appropriate action in emergent situations both physical and behavioral
• He/she will exhibit high level functioning in the ability to quickly take action to promote the safety and health of all residents on the unit
• Conduct routine rounds throughout the shift on a designated group of residents
• He/she will evaluate and observe residents' levels of acuity and communicate/report changes in acuity level to the covering RN and/or provider
• Assist with the coordination of transfers of residents to a more acute level of care as applicable - which includes hand-off communication to the receiving unit
• Exercise skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for residents and communicates appropriately with family members
• This includes the ability to effectively address residents with various medical and psychiatric conditions
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 07:30 am to 4:00 pm w/ every other weekend - and rotating holidays
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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)
• 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 # 460-06234-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

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.