Licensed Vocational Nurse - Mental Health

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Long Beach VA Health Care System is seeking a full-time Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) within the Mental Health Department. Applicants pending completion of education or licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic requirements include U.S. citizenship, English proficiency, graduation from an approved nursing program, and active, unrestricted LPN/LVN licensure.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an approved nursing program or NLNAC-accredited program with the appropriate licensure meeting VHA education requirements.
• Active, full, current and unrestricted licensure as a Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) in a US state/DC.
• U.S. citizenship and English language proficiency for direct patient care positions.

Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care to diverse patient populations in a mental health setting.
• Administer prescribed medications and monitor patient responses.
• Observe and respond to patient needs, coordinate with RNs and physicians as required.
• Participate in educational activities to enhance nursing skills.

Skills

Patient care

English proficiency

Education

LPN/LVN licensure

Job description

The Long Beach VA Health Care System is seeking a full time Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) within the Mental Health Department. 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.

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 stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for the grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

GS-6

Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent. AND

• 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 and to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments.
• Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for medication, equipment-assisted care and patient/family education.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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

2-3 years of inpatient Experience

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Physical Requirements

Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Straight Pulling (up to 2 hours); Pushing (2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Both legs required; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/40 and to 20/100 in the other.