The incumbent serves as an Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at the point of care for the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System (VA EKHCS). The LPN function is to provide quality nursing care to a culturally diverse veteran population of varying complexity in a variety of settings. This position works under consistent or periodic supervision of a professional nurse and physician and is responsible for the nursing care provided to the patients assigned to him/her.

Duties

The position performs tasks such as: checking and recording vital signs; administering injections; assisting patients with medication refills; medication and health teaching; recognizes changes in moods and behaviors of patients, intervening effectively to assist patients in coping; telephone interventions; demonstrating knowledge of principles/stages growth and development and provides age-specific care to veterans age 18 through the geriatric years including adult transition, young adulthood, middle adulthood, and old life stages on assigned unit; assisting with admissions, transfers, and discharges according to nursing policies and procedures; coordinating care with outside facilities and groups; and performs other duties/tasks as assigned. Knowledge/Competency: The LPN must demonstrate: The knowledge and skills necessary to provide culturally and spiritually appropriate care which is specific to the age and gender of patients assigned to him/her. Knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to identify data of each patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her cultural, spiritual, and age-specific need and provide the care indicated as described in nursing service policies. Knowledge/competency in core subjects and topics identified for mandatory annual review. Effective interpersonal skills. Customer Service. Support for organizational goals. The LPN must demonstrate clinical competency in the area to which he/she is assigned. Customer Service: Fosters a culture of high service standards that: Understands that customer service is essential to achieving the medical center's mission. Models commitment to customer service. Understands and meets the needs of internal/external customers. Manages customer complaints and concerns effectively and promptly. Provides the customer with consistent information according to the established policies and procedures. Uses customer feedback data in planning and providing services. Encourages and empowers others to meet or exceed customer needs and expectations. Identifies behaviors that enhance customer service. Embodies organizational Values that further the Mission and Vision of VA EKHCS. Work Schedule: 6:15pm-6:15am, 12 Hour Night Shifts (80 hours every two weeks), to include weekends and holidays Telework: Not Available Remote: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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. 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. Granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have 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 (i.e., Puerto Rico), of the United States or the District of Columbia. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. GS-03 None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or(b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) 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 (c) 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 the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Ability to serve as a responsible member of a nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professional and/or other support personnel involved in the delivery of patient care. Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous medications. This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting noted changes in the patient's condition. Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardia and/or pulmonary arrest. Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies. GS-06: Completion of at least one year of [additional] qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN. Proficiency 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, using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments, and accurately recognizing, reporting, and recording relevant patient information. Ability to observe, identify, and response to a patient's needs for care including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education. Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for, documents, and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments. Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directed. Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations and the ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members and other staff. Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which includes preparing the patient and 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. Preferred Experience: One year of experience in behavioral health. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G-13 Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: The duties involve activities which require standing and/or walking for extended periods, as well as moving (lift, lower, push, pull, turn) equipment and participating in patient transfers (lifts and assisted lifts) and patient mobility which requires application of principles of body mechanics. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, carrying and lifting of at least 35 pounds. 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 mature, flexible, sensible individual capable or working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. 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.

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/.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-13 Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

NOTE: Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who were converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986 are considered to have met the Education requirement. The waiver does not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions.

Contacts

• Address VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System 2200 SW Gage Blvd Topeka, KS 66622 US
• Name: Nicole Cyrus
• Email: [email protected]