Career Center

The Licensed Practical Nurse performs the full range of age-specific nursing care for adult and geriatric inpatients or outpatients with a variety of physical, mental, behavioral or psychosocial needs, which require increased judgment and independent action. 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: Must be proficient in both written and spoken English (as required by 38 USC 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:(1) 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.(2) 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: In addition to the basic requirements, 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-3 None beyond the basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved. GS-4 Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria below:(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-5 (a) Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent.(b) Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Works with the RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery. Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and /or prescribed treatment regimes.(c) 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.(d) 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. Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to RN or MD/DO.(e) 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.(f) Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.(g) 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. However, completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review. GS-6 (a) 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.(b) Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.(c) 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. Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures.(d) Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care and patient/family education. In organizing and delivering care, the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors.(e) Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.(f) 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.(g) 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.(h) 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.(i) 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires standing and walking for long periods of time. The LPN must frequently bend, reach, stoop, stretch to perform necessary work duties. Must be able to carry or lift up to 35 pounds and be able to utilize mechanical lifts for safety. ["Duties include but are not limited to: Re-enforce the assessment the physical and psychosocial needs of assigned patients, as outlined in the nursing care standards appropriate to their level and their practice area. Promptly Re-enforce the assessment of all patients assigned and assists in prioritizing the patient's immediate needs. Use judgment in selecting appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments. Assesses patients for proper identification and verification prior to performing any health treatment, special procedure, or administration of medications. Collects data by observation, inspection, patient records and reports. Recognizes and Documents, in the medical record, any/all observations made in reference to the physical, emotional, social, spiritual and cultural needs from patient, family, significant others, health care providers, and/or agencies in the community. Accurately and completely documents assessment data, maintains medical record confidentiality. Communicates data in timely manner by documenting, reporting, adjusting this plan of care and communicating among the health care team. Conducts self-assessment of performance and identifies own learning needs. Communicates this information to the professional nurse and immediate supervisor. Collaborates with the professional nurse to provide ongoing input to the assigned patient's care plan Assists in formulating desired patient outcomes. Reviews and submits input for nursing standards of care, policies and procedures, when requested. Suggests ways to solve problems relevant to patient care and improvement in overall operation of the unit. Plans and develops goals and objectives with immediate supervisor in conjunction with performance appraisal. Supports and adheres to service line and nursing program policies and procedures. Administers personal care and performs nursing care procedures. Performs support duties for complex diagnostic test and specialized practices, monitoring patient's condition before, during, and after procedure. Administers prescribed medications, monitors and documents results. Maintains IV therapy and administers IV medications as per medical center policy Observes and documents patient's physical and/or emotional response to medication administered and reports any changes in condition to the Registered Nurse (RN) /Medical doctor (MD)/Provider. Recognizes need to institute emergency measures, seeks assistance of RN/MD/Provider and assists in emergency interventions, including resuscitation procedures, as directed. Documents nursing actions and outcomes in the patient's record. Identifies and responds to patients needs for care to include medication and equipment-assisted care. Provides and documents effective education to patients/families in relation to common disease processes, medications and/or prescribed treatment programs. Serves as preceptor in orientation/training of less experienced LPN/LVN' s, NA, Health Techs, and as a role model in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery and/or support duties for complex, specialized tests/procedures. Demonstrates knowledge/understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations and uses this to work effectively with patients/significant others and staff. Participates with the professional nurse in the evaluation and revision of assigned patient's care plan. Fosters an environment of respect for the patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in care, establishing constructive relationships with all parties involved to elicit positive feelings and attitudes, promoting positive relationships, communication, and socialization skills. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions. Evaluates the LPN orientation and submits input for revision if indicated. Seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge/skills and shares same with staff to improve practice. Participates with the professional nurse in performance improvement activities. Evaluates self-objectives and determines need for new objectives in conjunction with performance evaluation. Promptly reports any breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies to the appropriate personnel for corrective action. Preferred Experience: Geriatrics, Med/Surg, Long Term Care Experience\nWork Schedule: Monday-Friday (12 Hour Shifts)\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]