Practical Nurse (Ambulatory Care)

Summary The Hampton VAHCS is a 1-C - teaching facility serving Eastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina. The main campus is in Hampton - VA with 4 CBOCs in Chesapeake - Portsmouth - Virginia Beach - Virginia and Elizabeth City - NC. There is one new Health Care Center in Chesapeake VA. Hampton VAMC provides comprehensive health care which includes Primary Care - Acute Inpatient - Acute Psychiatric - Chronic Spinal Cord Injury - a 169-bed Domiciliary - and long-term CLC/Hospice Care Unit. 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 that was approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing (Accrediting Commission - NLNAC) at the time of completion Licensure: Holds a current - full - active and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical nurse or vocational nurse in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or District of Columbia English Language Proficiency: Per VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. - chapter 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English 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: least six months of qualifying experience as an LPN/LVN OR - Graduation from an approved school 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 LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-3 grade level however - they are expected to exercise greater judgment - require less supervision - and to operate in accordance with all established policies - procedure and techniques GS-05: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS 04 level or equivalent 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: at least one (1) year of [additional] qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - 2 years total qualifying experience - that has provided you with the following: 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 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 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 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).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. Preferred Experience: 3-5 years Nursing experience 2-3 years Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) / Primary Care experience Emergency Room / Outpatient Nursing experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit Physical Requirements: The position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity The position requires long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing He/she may be exposed to infected Veterans and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing/equipment in isolation situations or during day-to-day clinic functions and procedures The LPN must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on Veteran needs The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to Veterans who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as screening or testing - as a condition of employment. Duties VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties Include - but are not limited to: Assists during emergent situations - initiates - and / or assist with CPR - choking - fire emergencies - etc. - and obtains equipment and supplies as requested by the RN or physician Administers medication accurately and promptly under the general supervision of a RN Demonstrates understanding of the effects and/or reactions caused by medications - treatments - and procedures Records and reports these observations to RN Performs personal care - diagnostic support duties and treatments according to procedure under the direction of the RN in a timely manner Responds to patient's nursing needs - including physical comfort - and emotional needs and recognizing problems from the normal Strive to involves patients and family to participate in the provision of care throughout the continuum Participates and reinforces resources and referrals Completes assignments in a timely manner with constructive utilization of remining time Initiates - administer - assess - monitor - and report IV sites - start intravenous fluids and piggyback solutions prepared by Pharmacy This involves monitoring IV fluids with/without medications - monitor flow of IV fluids - change IV tubing and IV site dressing - discontinues IV site Discontinues blood products Documents care provided as such Work Schedule: Full Time 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr