Vocational Nurse

Summary

The Service Level Advocate Licensed Vocational Nurse (SLA-LVN) is an auxiliary member of Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) and is expected to demonstrate knowledge and ability to resolve issues that occur at the point of service and assist the front-line staff in service recovery.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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:
  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 OR - 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
• OR - Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• 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
• 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 Requirements
• Qualifying experience is successful nursing practice as an LPN/LVN - maintaining acceptable standards within a health care setting under the direction of a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) and passed the State licensure examination on the first attempt
• To be creditable - practical nursing experience as an LPN or LVN must be documented on the application and verified in an employment reference or through other independent means
• Part-time experience is credited according to the relationship it bears to the full-time workweek (e.g.
  
  - an LPN/LVN who worked 20 hours per week - i.e.
  
  - half-time - would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks)
• In addition to the basic requirements the following qualification criteria must be met:
  Grade Determination GS-6:
  Completion of one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN AND Technically proficient 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
• 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 RN/MD/DO for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures
• 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
• 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…