Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) are technically proficient in initiating, performing, and completing a broad range of practical nursing care assignments to acutely and chronically ill patients with medical and psychiatric illnesses that usually change within a predicable range.

Duties

Functions/Activities Provides direct patient/resident care in a variety of settings, including acute medical and mental health units, community living center, residential rehabilitation and ambulatory care under the direction of a licensed physician or Registered Nurse. Provides basic practical nursing care to patients with uncomplicated medical and psychiatric illnesses. Clinical Responsibilities Accurately collects, reports, and records appropriate patient care data to contribute to the nursing assessment. Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team; understands patients' biopsychosocial needs for the purpose of providing care and input to treatment plans. Identifies and reports signs and symptoms of deviation from normal health status and changes in patient condition. Is able to identify potential suicide risks in patients and reports to RN or provider. Prepares and administers prescribed medications in accordance with established policy and procedure and observes, reports, and documents patients' response to medications. Establishes effective and therapeutic relations with and proves nursing care to acute and chronically ill patients with both medical and mental health conditions. Recognizes expected outcomes of interventions and reports, records, and exchanges information with members of the treatment team. Reinforces and reiterates instructions previously presented by a Registered Nurse or physicians. Promotes environmental safety, security, and patient confidentiality. Recognizes and reports unsafe equipment or situations and follows policy and procedure to assure personal and patient safety during patient care activities. Maintains therapeutic interpersonal relationships with patients and co-workers. Demonstrates flexibility and willingness to participate in and adapt to an everchanging health care environment. Conducts reassessments and inspections according to policy, such as skin, pain fall and PRN, without waiting for RN to direct. Performs Foley catheter insertions, maintaining sterile technique, manages supra pubic urinary catheters appropriately and performs IV site management to include dressing change. With valid state certification, LPN will perform IV insertions utilizing aseptic techniques. Manages IV medication administration appropriately. Performs patient suctions when directed. Performs PEG tube management. Serves as a resource for lower grade LPNs. Administrative Responsibilities Enters specific information into the patient's electronic record using appropriate formats, medical terminology, and templates. This information must be entered in a complete, confidential, and professional manner to insure information on the patient is shared with other VA staff. This information is to be reviewed on a regular basis. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. Attendance of all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, other committees as appropriate, etc.) is necessary. Identifies process and quality improvement opportunities and contributes to changes in processes through data collection. Additional duties may be required to be performed, as needed. Work Schedule: Mon-Wed 08:00-4:30pm, Thu 08:00-2:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51602-A, 51603-A, 51604-A, 51605-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until April 12, 2024. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be January 25 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be reviewed/referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** Basic Requirements: -United States Citizenship Citizen of the United States. -English Language Proficiency Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in [both] spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). -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. OR Exceptions 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. -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. Grade Determinations: GS-03 None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or 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-4 level or equivalent. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) -Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. -Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact [in an appropriate manner] with patients, family members, professional and [other] supportive personnel [involved in the delivery of] patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice. -Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures. -Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated, promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO, and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest. -Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action. -Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO. Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures. GS-06 -Completion of at least 1 year of [additional] qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-05 LPN/LVN. Also technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) 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. Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. 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. Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations, and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members, and other staff. Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members, and/or other internal/external customers. Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which include preparing the patient, assisting in the diagnostic examination, preparing and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment, and monitoring the patient's condition before, during, and following the procedure. Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, and 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 and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice. Preferred Experience: Outpatient Primary Care or Clinical experience preferred; applicable licensure required; ability to work with a team. References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06. 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. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. 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

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Sheridan VA Medical Center 1898 Fort Road Sheridan, WY 82801 US
• Name: Michael Rosales
• Phone: 5207921450 X16269
• Email: [email protected]