Licensed Practical Nurse

Diversity Group; Altoona (PA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Diversity Group is seeking an LPN/LVN for Acute & Long-Term Care services in the VA system to provide age-appropriate nursing care for adults and seniors with diverse needs. The role requires active licensure, English proficiency, and strict adherence to clinical and safety policies.

The LPN will work under RN/MD supervision, administer medications, monitor patient status, and educate patients and families as part of a collaborative care team in a high-demand environment.

Qualifications

• United States citizenship requirements and VA policy apply for hiring
• English language proficiency required for direct patient care roles
• Education: approved practical or vocational nursing program; NLNAC accreditation preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide age-specific nursing care to adult and geriatric patients/residents
• Work with RN/MD/DO to orient/train less experienced staff
• Administer and document medications per facility policies
• Observe and report changes in patient condition promptly
• Ensure patient safety and proper use of equipment and supplies
• Deliver nursing care across settings as part of the care team
• Maintain patient privacy and adhere to customer service standards

Skills

LPN/LVN licensure

English proficiency

Patient care

Education

Licensed Practical Nurse education

NLNAC accreditation

Job description

Summary

The LPN in Acute & Long-Term Care Service performs age-specific nursing care for adult and geriatric patients/residents with physical - mental - behavioral - or psychosocial needs - according to assignment and training.

Qualifications

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: 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
• Exceptions include: (1) 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
• (2) 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
• (3) 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• OR - Graduation from an approved school 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: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• Must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills - and abilities: 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
• (g) 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: Completion of at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN
• Must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills - and abilities: 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 - 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 monitoring the patient’s condition before - during - and following the procedure
• Serves as a preceptor in orienting - educating - and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex - specialized tests/procedures
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: Long term care experience is preferred.

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to: Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients/residents with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Observes - identifies - and responds to the patients/residents needs for nursing - medication - and equipment assisted care and recognizes deviations from normal
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare - administer - and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or IV medications as permitted by approved local facility policies protocols - and procedures
• Knowledge and ability to recognize need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated - promptly seek assistance of the RN or MD/DO - and assist in resuscitation procedures in a cardiac and/ or pulmonary arrest
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage and 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 abroad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures
• Responsible for delivering patient/resident care in a variety of settings
• Utilizes a Veteran-Centered Care approach to gain an understanding of the Veterans needs and desires
• Member of the core team and may collaborate with services internal and external to the VA to facilitate care transition in order to effectively meet the patient's/resident’s needs
• The LPN performs health education and basic health coaching to promote patient-driven goal setting and patient/resident activation for self-care and self-management
• He/she advocates for patients/residents - is a team member who promotes his/her own professional growth - development and practice
• The LPN maintains flexibility in order to manage additional duties as assigned
• Responsible for demonstrating the knowledge and practice of providing nursing care based on the four (4) performance standards/competencies - nursing care
• safety
• interpersonal communication
• and customer service
• Maintains confidentiality of electronic - written - and/or verbal information
• Performs - reports - and records assigned nursing care including - but not limited to policy orders - orders in suspense - protocols - completion of clinical reminders - appropriate consults and alerts as indicated
• Observes and provides care for patients/residents through the implementation of assigned interventions
• These interventions are targeted toward maximizing self-care management abilities
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Rotation based on department needs
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 503-05516-F / Licensed Practical Nurse Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized