Licensed Practical Nurse

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Licensed Practical Nurse. The Licensed Practical Nurse will function in Community Outpatient Services. 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.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Must be a graduate of school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing. (Education will be waived for current 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.
  
  The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions.)
• Must possess a 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.

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).

GS-07:
Must possess at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent. You must fully meet all performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN or equivalent and your resume must fully support this. Examples of experience includes:
Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations; ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions; use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; accurately recognize, report and record relevant patient information;
Completed work only needs a general review by a registered nurse or physician 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; 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 medications/treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO;
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;
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;
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;
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…