Licensed Practical Nurse or Vocational Nurse

Company: Department of Veterans Affairs
Location: Harlingen
Posted on: June 6, 2021

Job Description:

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Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT in support of critical hiring shortages in the VA. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be June 7, 2021 and applicants will be referred on an 'as needed' basis.

NOTE: Announcement will remain open until no longer needed but no later than August 23, 2021.

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Responsibilities

The Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse will be assigned to interested facilities throughout VHA and may be permanently or temporarily (not to exceed 1-year) appointed on an intermittent, part-time, or full-time schedule in support of the VA facilities across the nation. The Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse practices in a complex patient care setting in collaboration with interdisciplinary colleagues and the department nurse/unit manager.

There are vacancies for LPNs/LVNs in a variety of specialty areas to include:

• Critical Care (ICUs, Step down ICUs, Emergency Departments)
• Acute Care (Medical, Surgical, Oncology, Cardiology, Urgent Care)
• Outpatient (Specialty Clinics, Primary Care, Endoscopy, Dialysis, Urology, Dermatology, Pain Clinics, Hem/Onc- infusions clinics)
• Mental Health (Acute Mental Health Inpatient, Chronic Mental Health Inpatient, Detox/ Substance Abuse)
• Geriatrics / CLC (Hospice, Dementia Care, Palliative, Long Term Living)
• Long Term Care (Subacute Rehab, MDS Coordinators, Spinal Cord Injury)
• Operating Room / PACU (Patient Acute Care Unit)
• Case Management/Analytics

The primary responsibilities of this Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse may vary by assignment.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Assisting with minor procedures, including obtaining and arranging necessary equipment, positioning patients, ensuring comfort and privacy, and monitoring the patient during the procedure;
• Providing direct nursing care to patients with an emphasis on patient teaching, care coordination and interventions such EKGs and phlebotomy;
• Documenting care activities;
• Performing procedures, treatments and delegated tasks;
• Administering medication and oxygen therapy;
• Issuing clinical reminders with appropriate consults and alerts as indicated; and
• Cleaning and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment.

Work Schedule: A variety of work schedules are available; Work schedule will be determined upon selection. NOTE: May be expected to work rotating weekends and holidays.

Pay Schedule: The salary range listed in this announcement is a Base-Line Salary for a full-time work schedule. Starting salary will be set based on locality (which may include a special pay rate depending upon location), as well as FT, PT or Intermittent employment.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses: Not Available

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases.

Paid Time Off: Depending on your leave tier, receive 13 to 26 days paid time off per year, including 10 paid federal holidays; 13 sick days annual with no limitation on accumulation.

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).

For More Information on Benefits: https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Benefits/EmploymentBenefits

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0620 Practical Nurse

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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. NOTE: This applies to the past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) only.

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 Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), previously known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), previously known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006. Additional information may also be obtained from the ACEN Website. Exceptions include:
• 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.
• 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.
• Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school.

• VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) pending the completion of educational may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

• 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.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements listed above, the following criteria must be met for each grade.

GS-6: Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Technically proficient in initiating, performing & completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations;
• Knowledge & ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order & sequence of procedures & treatments; & to accurately recognize, report & record relevant patient information;
• Ability to observe, identify & respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care & patient/family education;
• Prepares & administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular &/or intravenous) & performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for physical &/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly & accurately documenting noted changes, & reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO;
• Knowledge & ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO, & initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed;
• Knowledge & understanding of human behavior, patient motivations & reactions to situations, & ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members, & other staff;
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients & their families to elicit feelings & attitudes, & to promote positive relationships, communication & socialization skills;
• Knowledge & skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests &/or specialized practices or procedures, which include preparing the patient, assisting in the diagnostic examination, preparing & handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment, & monitoring the patient's condition before, during, & following the procedure. Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, & training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex, specialized tests/procedures;
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge & skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve & advance nursing practice.

References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13 - Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6.

Physical Requirements: 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, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

Education

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. NOTE: This applies to the past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) only. HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC)")

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Keywords: Department of Veterans Affairs, Harlingen , Licensed Practical Nurse or Vocational Nurse, Other , Harlingen, Texas