Practical Nurse - Long Term Care Vent Unit - USA Jobs : Job Details

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) GS-7 is for a select, complex LPN/LVN position providing nursing care for adult and geriatric inpatients within the Vent Unit at Northport VAMC. The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) GS-7 performs the most complex age specific nursing care for adult and geriatric inpatients with a variety of physical, mental, behavioral, or psychosocial needs. Responsibilities duties include but are not limited to:

Provides a full range of LPN/LVN care to patients with a variety of physical and psychological needs. Has the ability to work independently and provide modalities to veterans that have multiple complex medical and or emotional conditions. Demonstrates adherence to VA and Nursing policies/procedures and standards and maintains competencies consistent with role responsibilities. Assists the RN/HCP and other staff in proactively identifying and addresses the veteran's needs and can readily recognize the more subtle signs & symptoms of changes in the veteran's condition and takes appropriate action. Participates in the development of educational material for providing veteran, family, and caregiver teaching. Teaches and documents health concepts to veteran, including learning needs and readiness to learn. Is self-directed in seeking out and participating in learning opportunities for the veteran. Demonstrates skill/knowledge/ability to perform treatments, procedures and the use and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment appropriate to assigned duties. Accurately reports pertinent, signs, symptoms, conditions, and behavior of patients to the RN/HCP as deemed necessary by the patient's condition. Accurately and timely records all patient data, and education into the medical records. Is proficient in the long-term care documentation. Actively participates in interdisciplinary team planning sessions by offering observations and suggestions and reviews and updates care plans as needed. Proficient in the care of ventilated patients including trach care, chest PT, suctioning, infection prevention, oral care, enteral feedings, lab draws. Possess knowledge and skills necessary to carry out care of long-term care ventilated patients, proper extensive documentation, involvement in IDT rounds, coordinating care with PT, OT, and recreational therapists. 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. Proactively assists 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. 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. Recognized 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. Serves as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care. As well as serves as role model/mentor for other nursing staff in the application of more complex technology, effectively guiding and directing their continued practice. Effectively cares for long term care patients, ventilated patients under very general supervision. Exercise's judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate. Active participant in IDT rounds. Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery. Responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff daily and reporting any concerns or events to their supervisor immediately. Promptly recognizes 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. Other duties as assigned.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: 7:30pm-8:00am

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)

Functional Statement #: 24133F

Requirements Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.

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.

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 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.

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.

An LPN/LVN who has or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part.

Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

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