Licensed Vocational Nurse w/Recruitment-Relocation Incentive/EDRP

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 54,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP eligibility

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to join the Veterans Health Administration. The role involves delivering practical nursing care, administering medications, and assisting in coordinating patient care in a clinical setting.

The candidate will work under RN/MD supervision, orient and train junior staff, and provide patient education. Eligibility for Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) is noted, with expected compliance to VA policies.

Qualifications

• Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency.
• Active, full, current and unrestricted LPN/LVN licensure in the United States or District of Columbia.

Responsibilities

• Provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients.
• Assist RN/MD in orienting and training less experienced staff.
• Administer prescribed medications and document actions.
• Support clinic operations to ensure smooth patient flow.
• Educate patients and families about conditions, medications, and treatments.

Skills

Nursing care

Patient education

Team collaboration

Emergency response

Education

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license

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
• 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 Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 - enacted November 21 - 1983 - or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 - enacted October 28 - 1986
• OR Individual granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• 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
• 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)
• 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: GS-03 - None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-04 - 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-05 - Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• 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-06 - 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
• 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 a 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.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Performing routine structured/focused health screenings or the equivalent - delivering basic nursing interventions - promoting patient safety - and assisting with ensuring smooth clinic flow - while reinforcing patient education - preventive care - and continuity of services across the care experience
• Completing preventive procedures - nursing tasks - chart reviews - panel scrubbing - daily huddles - and visit preparation with routine or detailed higher-level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved
• Supporting efficient clinic operations by completing screening reminders - rooming patients - assisting providers with entry-level LPN/LVN tasks - managing room turnover - and conducting pre-visit calls to prepare patients for labs and procedures
• Contributing to schedule management by reviewing upcoming appointments - assisting with identifying opportunities for alternate care modalities - supporting consult tracking - and serving as backup for routine post-discharge calls
• Using clinic tools and workflows - participating in PACT meetings and helping maintain continuity - coordination - and quality of care across the team
• Performs pre-visit planning by reviewing records - obtaining missing documentation - updating changes in conditions or treatments - and preparing clinical data to support an efficient - high-quality appointment with routine or detailed higher-level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved
• Supports clinic flow by rooming patients - collecting vital data - completing assigned clinical reminders - assisting providers with routine procedures - administering medications and immunizations - and maintaining clean - stocked exam rooms
• Supports clinical decision-making by reviewing medications and allergies - identifying urgent needs - initiating nursing protocols or clinical pathways as locally approved - and communicating key findings to the RN or provider
• Participates in enhancing team functioning through health coaching - patient education - secure message management - consult tracking - participation in PACT meetings - and follow-up with no-show patients to ensure safety and continuity of care
• Supports team operations by participating in pre-planning - daily huddles - and team meetings - and by assisting with patient care activities such as immunizations - injections - procedures - prevention efforts - and serving as a chaperone when appropriate and within the limits of educational preparation - experience - and competencies
• Collaborates with the PACT to achieve access - continuity - quality - and patient-experience goals - contributing to panel management through schedule review - identifying appropriate visit modalities - and completing or routing secure messages with routine or detailed higher-level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved
• Maintains an organized and efficient clinical environment by keeping exam rooms clean and stocked - managing supplies and equipment - and performing required quality control checks
• Contributes to patient care planning and promotes Whole Health principles by providing input - supporting shared decision-making - and assisting the team in delivering entry-level patient-centered - collaborative care
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 07:45am - 04:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized for highly qualified individuals 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) 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 #: 99267-F
• 99266-F
• 99265-F
• 99264-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized