Practical Nurse

Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Location: Sheridan
Posted on: April 9, 2021

Job Description:

Summary 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. **If you are a current VA and/or Federal Employee please apply to 11039036.** Responsibilities 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. The LPN provides basic practical nursing care to patients with uncomplicated medical and psychiatric illnesses. 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. 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: 12 hour Shift (Night or Day) - rotating, including days, nights, holidays and weekends Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 program was completed by the applicant. 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 as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Preferred Experience: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Certified Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The applicant's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. (1) GS-03 - 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. (2) GS-04 - Six (6) months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; OR Graduation from an approved school and one (1) 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. (3) GS-05 - Completion of at least one (1) year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent.Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. (4) GS-06 - 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. Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations. References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13. Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. 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: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over);Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Kneeling (up to 8 hours); Both legs required or prosthesis; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Ability to read typewritten characters, glasses permitted; Ability to hear the whispered voice, hearing aid permitted. 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: d.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: d.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

Keywords: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Billings , Practical Nurse, Healthcare , Sheridan, Montana