Licensed Practical Nurse

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Rainbow City (AL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for the Birmingham VA Health Care System. The role includes nursing care under supervision, venipuncture, specimen handling, and patient education. Must hold an active LPN/LVN license and meet VA requirements.

EDRP participation is available; pay and benefits follow federal pay scales. Work schedule typically Monday–Friday, with potential evenings/weekends depending on service needs.

Qualifications

• Citizenship and English language proficiency required.
• Active, full, current, unrestricted LPN/LVN license in the United States or DC.
• Graduate from an approved practical nursing program (state authority or NLNAC accredited).
• Licensure must be in good standing before hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients under RN/MD supervision.
• Assist with venipuncture and specimen collection as part of lab duties.
• Prepare, label, and handle lab specimens per lab specs.
• Maintain clean, sanitary work areas and adhere to PPE guidelines.
• Demonstrate professional communication with patients and team; document care and scheduling.

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are 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 the program was completed by the applicant
• 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 OR granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have 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 - or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - of the United States or the District of Columbia
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the 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)
• however - completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved
• 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 GS-03
• Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position - usable vision - color vision - hearing or speech may be required
• However - in most cases - a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.
  

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Lab Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) will demonstrate 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 provide acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery
• Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to venipuncture - common disease processes - medication - and /or prescribed treatment regimes
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Performs a proper and successful phlebotomy procedure and deals with complications that may arise
• Uses variety of phlebotomy techniques to ensure that the proper collection of specimen samples meets laboratory requirements
• Collect - label - prepare and store lab samples according to laboratory specifications
• Label sterile containers for other samples - such as urine - and instruct patients on proper collection procedures
• Assemble - maintain - and dispose of medical instruments such as needles - test tubes - and blood vials
• Maintains compliance with established processes: turn-around time expectations - collecting and handling specimens - proper documentation of sample collection
• Prepare lab requisitions in computer by acquiring all information required
• Properly prepares and packages all specimens for courier transport in a timely manner and ensures all lab work is complete and error free
• Accommodates patient and laboratory needs by professionally responding to requests for flexibility in duties - schedules - and staffing
• Keep work areas and equipment clean and sanitary
• Compliant with PPE guidelines
• Comply with the Birmingham VA Health Care System policies - protocols and procedures - Good time management skills and ability to work with minimal on-site supervision
• Ability to work in fast paced environment and be detail oriented
• Commitment to provide quality work with no errors
• Demonstrate excellent customer service and patient care
• Work well with others and ability to problem solve
• Computer skills - including Microsoft Word - MS Teams - and Excel
• Professional and effective verbal and written communication skills
• Phone calls are acted upon promptly and handled in a professional manner per the customer service protocol
• - Assists in daily workload outside of the lab as needed
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm (Some evenings and weekends based on the needs of the service) Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PDF51067 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized