Practical Nurse-Nursing/Ambulatory Care

Licensed Practical Nurse

This Practical Nurse position serves at the Lowell, MA and Bedford, MA enclave VA facilities on 6-8 week rotations. The Lowell/Bedford Enclave consists of 27 specialty clinics, including Neurology, Pain Procedures, Podiatry, Cardiology, Pulmonary Medicine, Dermatology, Endocrinology, General Surgery, Urology, Renal, Orthopedics, Rheumatology, Vascular Surgery, Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases (including Hepatitis and Sleep), as well as Specialty Nursing Clinics. Other duties include but are not limited to:

• Participates in the pre-planning of care such as through huddles and follow-up of visits as indicated and participating in the prioritization and coordination of patient care and team communication.
• Makes observations and thoroughly documents care and the patient's response. Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or medical provider of changes in the patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention.
• Adheres to standards of practice and safe technique in preparation and administration of medication.
• Demonstrates understanding of age- and population-specific characteristics that affect the health care needs of the Veteran.
• Promptly recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations, seeks assistance, and effectively intervenes as directed when appropriate.
• Based on the patient's goals and needs, provides patient and family health education, to include self-management, prevention and wellness and may include approaches such as individual or Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) and Face-To-Face or Telephone Care.
• Interacts and communicates appropriately with patients and family members incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice.
• Demonstrates professional behavior (i.e., respect, civility, ability to accept constructive criticism), effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Adheres to principles of infection control, safety, and universal precautions.
• Incumbent possesses knowledge of proper handling and pre-cleaning of reusable medical equipment.

Work Schedule: Full time, Mon - Fri, 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm

Telework: Not authorized.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: F05598 GS-03, F05599 GS-04, F05600 GS-05, F05601 GS-06

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Maybe authorized for highly qualified candidates.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized P

CS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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)

• Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is a Bargaining Unit position.
• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• This position is covered by a special rate.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• 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
• Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

US Department of Veterans Affairs