Licensed Practical Nurse - Primary Care (Knoxville - TN)

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) — a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval — award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Qualifications 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 accepted by the licensing body in the jurisdiction in which the individual is licensed as qualifying for full LPN/LVN licensure. That 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 has 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 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: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade GS‑03: The LPN GS‑03 will perform at the advanced beginner level. Responsible for direct patient care activities under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN); written assignment with supplemental verbal instructions given by the RN; work performance observed and regularly evaluated by the RN for competency validation; practical nurse seeks guidance from the RN when difficulty is encountered with the assignment GS‑04: Same responsibilities as GS‑03. GS‑04 will perform at the advanced beginner level. Responsible for direct patient care activities under the supervision of the RN; written assignment with supplemental verbal instructions given by the RN; work performance observed and regularly evaluated by the RN for competency validation; practical nurse seeks guidance from the RN when difficulty is encountered Demonstrate ability to serve as a responsible member of the clinic and interact with patients, family members, professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care and with members of other services Assist with answering the phone, conveying timely messages to the appropriate staff, placing calls/pages as needed Have the option to participate in the accurate collection of data as instructed by the Nurse Manager or designee GS‑05: The LPN GS‑05 will demonstrate knowledge and ability to provide full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Works with the RN and/or MD to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs, NAs, and Health Technicians (HT) according to acceptable standards of practice in the delivery of optimal patient care. Other responsibilities similar to GS‑04 GS‑06: The LPN GS‑06 are 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; use judgment in selecting appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; accurately recognize, report, and record relevant patient information; prepare and administer prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous) and perform treatments according to established policies/procedures; observe, document, and report changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments; recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed; knowledge of human behavior, patient motivations, and reactions; perform support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures; prepare patient for procedures Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit Preferred Experience: 3–5 years of LPN experience Dependability and experience in a variety of clinical settings such as primary care, internal medicine, or other outpatient clinic experience Knowledge and ability to participate actively in teaching the patient, family, and/or significant others Ability to function in outpatient clinics with minimal supervision Ability to recognize and respond to potential emergent patient situations Electronic medical record experience 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: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from adult age 18 to the elderly adult age 65 and over James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JHQVAMC) is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients There is a large outpatient psychiatric population with admissions for medical comorbidities This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, lifting more than 10 pounds, and pushing Transferring patients and objects may be required Duties Maintain knowledge and ability to carry out patient care determined by the patient's condition utilizing judgment in selecting appropriate orders, procedures, and treatments; recognize, report, and record relevant patient information including urgent and emergent situations Observe, identify, and respond to patient needs for medication, medical equipment, and patient/family education while considering emotional, cultural, spiritual, socioeconomic, and age‑related factors Maintain knowledge and skill to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken for commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures Demonstrate ability to serve as a responsible member of the clinic and interact with patients, family members, professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care and with members of other services Assist with answering the phone, conveying timely messages to the appropriate staff, placing calls/pages as needed Participate in evaluation of nursing care through attendance and input at team conferences and communication with the Nurse Manager Further participate in team conference development and implementation by presenting a patient for team conference discussion when needed Have the option to participate in the accurate collection of data as instructed by the Nurse Manager or designee Have the option to make recommendations for the application of current research findings to practice as well as applying those findings as assigned Provide appropriate information to patients and their families regarding the plan of care; assist the patient and family in understanding and acceptance of the disease process and encourage participation in the care and rehabilitation of the patient Identify patient's educational needs to include equipment, medication, treatment procedures, and diagnosis; assist with teaching patient/family as appropriate Reusable medical equipment: Be familiar with items cleaned locally in clinic and items sent to sterile processing service for reprocessing and/or sterilization; if items are to be transported for reprocessing, ensure decontamination steps prior to transport and appropriate method of transport; follow local Standard Operating Procedure drafted in accordance with manufacturer's written recommendations; consult SPS and Infection Prevention and Control when clarification of written instructions is needed; reprocessing must not be based on vendor's verbal instructions alone Work schedule: Full time, rotational shifts Recruitment incentive: Not authorized Permanent change of station: Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Pay scale: VOB and 001M Paid time off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year (13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays) Parental leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with 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 401(K) with up to 5% contribution 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 #: 61005‑F, 61004‑F, 61003‑F, 61006‑F Permanent change of station (PCS): Not authorized. EDRP authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive Contact: View email address on click.appcast.io – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Learn more #J-18808-Ljbffr