Summary

The Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN) position is located at the Tomah - WI VAMC. One year of LPN experience is required as is supervisory experience.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for this position
• Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Must be a Citizen of the United States
• Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Education: Must be a 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
• (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Licensure: Must possess a 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
• (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED) Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for appointment at the GS-7 grade level
• GS-7 Level: Must have 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 that includes: Knowledge and 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
• Ability to 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
• Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments - accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and 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
• Knowledge and 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 healthy lifestyles for more positive patient 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
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/3 - PART II - APPENDIX G13
• This can be found in the local Human Resources Office
• Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - and sitting
• Physical requirements may involve lifting - carrying - pulling - pushing - reaching above shoulder - walking - standing - sitting - kneeling and repeated bending.

Duties

• Major Duties Use of veteran care data to initiate active contributions to the veteran's overall health plan
• Observations of Veteran's present status are made and interventions implemented to improve - restore or maintain the optimal function of the Veteran
• Has knowledge of program regulations and is able to carry out objectives of the Nursing program
• In doing this - follows the guidelines to meet and maintain program requirements
• Contributes to the development of the plan of care for assigned veterans outlining program modalities and updates per policy and as changes occur and completed with the RN and MD
• Promotes and demonstrates nursing concepts in the Medical Center
• Works in collaboration with the Registered Nurse (RN) - and or Health Care Provider (HCP)
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - Intramuscular - and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• The LPN/LVN 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
• Takes appropriate actions based upon communications - observations - Veteran care reports - provider/staff discussion
• Assists other staff to prioritize the overall Veteran care needs and adjusts the plan of care as needed
• Accurately and consistently reports and records significant Veteran information received from other team members and can analyze and implement modifications based on these reports
• Is adept at encouraging and communicating with challenging psychological and physical behaviors to promote optimal functioning
• Demonstrates the ability to work independently without the need for readily available supervision and communicates effectively with the Veteran - families - caregivers - professionals - and other supportive staff
• Demonstrates the knowledge - skills - and ability to perform treatments - procedures and the use and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment appropriate to assigned duties
• Exhibits skill - creativity - and initiative by contributing to the overall Veteran care delivery - and improving satisfaction - through active participation on committees - task forces and groups
• Utilizes sustainable practices to eliminate - minimize - or mitigate adverse environmental impacts
• Supports the team in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing staff or non-medical staff to ensure safe patient care delivery
• Collaborates with PACT/Specialty team and other interdisciplinary services in the development - implementation - and evaluation of patient care
• Assists in coordination of care during and after the transition of a patient from inpatient to outpatient and vice versa
• Assists with medication reconciliation to improve patient safety
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule:7:30 am - 4:00 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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 #: 06765F