Summary

The Surgical Specialty LPN is responsible for surgical and non-surgical patient care and works in collaboration with others. The LPN provides post-op care - wound care - or any other nursing interventions as permitted by the governing licensing authorities and/or the Veteran Health Administration. The Specialty LPN enters orders for labs - supplies - and prosthetic items as permitted per nursing protocol policy.

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-Documentation Submitted: 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
• Licensure-Documentation Submitted: 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
• 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-7 In addition to the basic requirements stated in section A - the following qualification criteria must be met
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• The GS-7 grade level is for select - complex LPN/LVN positions - as established by each health care facility
• To be advanced - employees must meet all of the following standards - provided the standard is part of their assignment
• Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent - fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN
• The following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs) must be met: Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties - including assignments in selected - more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery
• Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments - accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and patient's response to medications/treatments received
• Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO for appropriate team intervention and effectively intervene - as directed - to assure the continuation of optimal - safe and therapeutic patient care delivery
• Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes
• Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with patients and/or family members who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control - resistant or abusive behaviors - or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions
• Skill - creativity and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces - research projects or in developing educational materials/media
• Comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices to serve as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care
• Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non- medical staff in patient care delivery
• Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO
• Exercises independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles - art and science of practical nursing
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: Surgical specialty experience
• Procedural experience
• Leadership experience - including collateral leadership duties
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - kneeling - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual - capable of working effectively in stressful situations - and able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Duties

• The LPN at this grade is expected to have an exceptional degree of knowledge and skills necessary for self-direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing care assignments for both inpatient and outpatient care
• Duties include but are not limited to: Demonstrates ability to assist RN and/or Provider to appropriately prioritize overall Veteran care needs and adjust plans for care delivery
• Assists the RN and/or Provider in addressing Veteran's needs for medication/treatments - accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and Veteran's response to medications/treatments received
• This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level
• Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN and/or Provider of more subtle physical and emotional changes in Veteran's condition requiring higher-level intervention and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations
• Recognizes potential urgent or emergent Veteran care situations - seeks assistance of the RN and/or Provider for appropriate team intervention - and effectively intervenes as directed - to assure the continuation of optimal - safe - and therapeutic Veteran care delivery
• Recognizes the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions - promptly informs the RN and/or Provider of observed changes in Veteran's condition and initiates appropriate - prescribed interventions
• Makes astute observations of subtle - less obvious changes - both physical and emotional - in Veteran's condition - and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and Veteran's response to care that could require immediate modification of the Veteran's care plan
• Assists individuals or groups of Veterans - families - and/or caregivers to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive Veteran outcomes
• Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with Veterans - families - and/or caregivers who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control - resistant or abusive behaviors - or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions
• Supports the RN and/or Provider in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in Veteran care delivery
• Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN and/or Provider
• In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level - the LPN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 0730-1600
• Flexible to meet the needs of the organization
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not 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) Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 81615F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.