Licensed Practical Nurse

Summary

This position is assigned to the Nursing - Ambulatory Care Service at the Montgomery VA Medical Center located in Montgomery, Alabama. The incumbent practices as a Licensed Practical Nurse on the Patient Align Care Team (PACT). He/she assists the provider or registered nurse with the medical aspects of patient care, including medication management, education and counseling on disease prevention, safe handling of patient, wound care and treatment, and related activities.

Applicants pending 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.
• English Language Proficiency; no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless 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 of completion.
• Exceptions include health‑care education in the military service or training in the military service accepted by the licensing body in the jurisdiction in which the individual is licensed as qualifying for full LPN/LVN licensure, or granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school and has at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/LVN.
• Licensure:
  Active, full, current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, Commonwealth (e.g., Puerto Rico), the United States or the District of Columbia.
• Grade Determinations:
  In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met for each grade.
• 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); completed work may require routine or detailed higher‑level review depending on complexity.
• GS‑04 (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; (b) Graduation from an approved school and one year of experience in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical‑nursing or patient‑care facility that provides practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques; (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
• GS‑05:
  Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems, serve as a responsible member of a nursing team, interact appropriately with patients, family members, and other support personnel, prepare, administer, and document medication actions, document patient responses, report changes in condition, recognize and initiate emergency measures, and respond to equipment or supply issues.
• GS‑06:
  Proficiency in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations; ability to carry out patient care based on conditions using judgment, selecting appropriate orders and sequences, reporting patient information, providing patient/family education, and considering emotional, socio‑economic, and age‑related factors.
• Knowledge and skill in preparing and administering prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous), observing and documenting patient responses, recognizing urgent or emergent situations, and initiating appropriate interventions.
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions, and the ability to use this knowledge to work effectively with patients, family, and staff.
• Establish constructive relationships with patients and families to promote positive interactions, communication, and socialization skills.
• Foster an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity.
• Effectively incorporate customer‑service standards in all interactions with…