Licensed Practical Nurse

Summary

This position will be located at the North Battlefield VA OPC in Chesapeake and incumbent will work at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC) until the facility opens. The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) reports to the designated Nurse Manager and is responsible and accountable for the provision of patient care and for delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse veteran patient population.

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
• Education or Training
• 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
• Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency or the NLNAC
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• 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
• Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-6:
  Requires 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
• In addition the following criteria must be met:
  Technically proficient in initiating - performing & completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• Knowledge & ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patient' conditions
• to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order & sequence of procedures & treatments
• & to accurately recognize - report & record relevant] patient information
• Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness & conformity with established policies/procedures
• Ability to observe - identify - & respond to the patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment-assisted care - & patient/family education
• Prepare & administer prescribed medication (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or intravenous) & performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments - promptly & accurately documenting noted changes - & reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO
• Knowledge & ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO - & initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed
• Knowledge & understanding of human behavior - patient motivations & reactions to situations - & ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working…