Licensed Practical Nurse (PACT)

Summary

The primary purpose of the Licensed Practical/License Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) 6 is to perform assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care - positive customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran. THE CLOSING DATE FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 16 - 2025. IF YOU PREVIOUSLY APPLIED - YOU DO NOT NEED TO REAPPLY; HOWEVER - YOU MAY UPDATE YOUR APPLICATION PACKET DURING THIS TIME.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• To qualify for this occupational series - all applicants must possess the following: 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: 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)
• 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
• Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission - 61 Broadway - 33rd Floor - New York - NY 10006
• Additional information may also be obtained from the NLNAC Website
• TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED
• 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
• See paragraph 4 - section C
• 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
• An LPN[/LVN] who has or has ever had - any license(s) revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3 - section B - paragraph 16 of this part
• COPY OF CURRENT - UNENCUMBERED LICENSURE WITH LICENSE NUMBER REQUIRED
• 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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for qualifications above - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 Experience or Education: :Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria in paragraphs 3b(2)(a) through (c) below: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• or Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) and one 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
• GS-5 Experience: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Works with the RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery
• Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes - medication - and /or prescribed treatment regimes
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients - family members - professional and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care - incorporating acceptable - established customer service standards into practice
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare - administer - and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures
• Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to RN or MD/DO
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated - promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO
• Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures
• However - completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review
• GS-6 Experience/KSAs: 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): 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 registered nurse (RN) or physician (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 medications/treatments - promptly and accurately documenting noted changes - and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO
• See Additional Information for GS-6 KSA Qualifications
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

Duties

• Duties will vary based on grade
• At the GS-6 - full performance level of this position - the incumbent is accountable for greeting the Veterans - using different modalities of gathering Veteran data such as observation - vital signs and recording information the Veteran provides them
• communicating this data to the Registered Nurse (RN) and/or provider
• and taking action as directed
• Duties will include: Ensure appropriate evaluation and access is provided to patients assigned to the patient panel
• Function at the full extent of the team member's scope of practice based on experience/training
• Participate in team performance improvement and sustainment activities to enhance care delivery
• Implement primary care operations management processes as appropriate
• access - Veteran centered care - Life Goal - etc
• Manage communications and facilitate safe transitions of the Veteran between the PACT and other health care settings using warm hand-off communication either in person or by telephone
• Use informal/formal communications that are respectful - effective - and timely with all team members and other internal/external customers to convey significant information for the care of the patient
• Provide health education on wellness - disease prevention - chronic care management and self management skills to patients and personal support persons - based on the documented expertise or professional training of the PACT member
• Engage patients in using health care - encouraging patients to engage personal support persons - receiving input from patients and personal support persons regarding VA care
• Utilize all available tools - such as registries - to enable effective and efficient identification and intervention of individual patients and cohorts
• Collaborate with informatics technology staff to develop and implement systematized - electronically supported - standardized - tools to support PACT care delivery processes (e.g. - pre-visit reminder calls - post-hospitalization follow-up calls - recall scheduling procedures - new patient orientation - disease registries and primary care protocols for chronic disease management) as needed
• Follows medical center policies
• Promotes patient and personal safety
• Also responsible for specific role assignments - including: Participating in PACT huddles
• Participating in PACT meetings
• Participating in process improvements
• Promoting personal - pro-active - Veteran Centered care
• Understands and uses shared decision making
• Assists with pre-visit phone calls to Veterans to complete reminders as appropriate and obtain reason for appointment if not indicated
• Reviewing daily clinic schedule for patient care needs
• Collaborating with PACT members to develop comprehensive health care plans and care management plans for Veterans assigned to panel
• Manages clinic flow which includes the following: Vital signs and treatments as indicated/appropriate
• Completing appropriate clinical reminders
• Assisting the provider with exam/procedures
• Administering and tracking immunizations (per licensure)
• Preparing and administering medications (per licensure and protocol)
• Completing orders per provider or protocol
• Keeps Veterans advised of delays/wait times
• Observes - records and reports patient's response or changes in patient's condition
• Checks daily equipment & supplies and restocks the exam rooms
• Promptly recognizes and responds to urgent or emergent situations
• Assists with orientation of new employees
• Acts as patient advocate
• assures patient understands content of visit and when to return to clinic - as well as how to contact team between visits
• Licensed Practical Nurse - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-LPN-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)