Summary

PLEASE READ THE COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET. The Miami VA Healthcare System's Geriatrics & Extended Care (GEC) Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic LPN. Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. 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:

• All applicants must meet the following basic qualifications
• United States Citizenship: Must be a US Citizen 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
• Exceptions: Health care education or training in the military service 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 Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements - the following qualification criteria must be met for the GS-7 grade level
• The GS-7 grade level is for select - complex LPN 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
• (a) Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 grade level or equivalent - fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN
• Examples of experience include - but is not limited to work in which you: initiate - perform - and complete assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• 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
• observe - identify and respond to the patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment-assisted care and patient/family education - etc
• (b) Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties - including assignments in selected - more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings
• (c) Ability to assist RN and/or physician to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery
• (d) Ability to proactively assist the RN or physician in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments - accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to medications/treatments received
• (This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) (e) 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
• (f) Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes
• (g) Exhibits 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
• (h) Possesses 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
• NOTE: Determinations concerning placement of positions at this grade level shall take into consideration the skill mix and the availability of supervision in the work unit
• Although these positions are under the supervision of a RN and/or physician - employees in such settings successfully and consistently demonstrate the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision) - as well as a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures
• Such individuals may also serve as leaders or co-leaders in a nursing unit or for a specifically identified group of patients
• 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-7. Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation as required by VA Handbook 5019
• This evaluation is administered by VA Occupational Health.

Duties

• The LPN serves as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team with an assigned patient load
• The incumbent engages in nursing care - which requires the knowledge and skills represented by licensed as an LPN
• The LPN maintains acceptable standards of practice under the direction of the nurse manager or designee - and has the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties
• These duties include assignments in selected - more complex - inpatient and/or outpatient care settings
• Other duties include but are not limited to: Promptly recognizing potentially urgent or emergent patient care situations - seeking assistance of the Registered Nurse (RN) and/or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)/Physician for appropriate team intervention - and effectively intervenes
• Patient population consists of mostly elderly - chronically ill patients requiring astute observation of subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and requires appropriate actions based on these observations
• Performing procedures such as application of external urinary catheters
• routine Foley catheter care
• irrigation of Foley catheters - including the set-up and replacing of solutions for continuous Foley catheter irrigations
• irrigation of nasogastric tubes and established colostomies
• inserting and discontinuing Foley catheters
• giving regular and medicated enemas
• changing complicated extensive sterile dressings
• performing finger sticks Carrying out respiratory treatments such as postural drainage - chest physiotherapy
• sets up and initiates oxygen therapy - including nebulization treatments
• performs oropharngeal - nasopharyngeal and tracheal suctioning - performs routine tracheostomy care - instructs patient in use of incentive spirometer
• monitors and records observations of chest tubes and pleurovacs
• assembles water-sealed chest drainage systems Observing for physical and/or emotional changes in patients' condition from prescribed medications/treatments Monitoring and regulating the flow of intravenous fluids manually or via infusion pumps and reporting observations to the registered nurse
• observing IV site for infiltration and inflammation and reporting to the Registered Nurse
• changes peripheral IV and saline lock dressings
• changing IV solution administration sets following established protocols
• discontinues peripheral intravenous catheters when authorized by the Registered Nurse
• monitoring and adding maintenance IV fluids (as approved) via mini-bags - prepared by pharmacy - through an existing peripheral line/saline lock Preparing and administering prescribed medications (oral and intramuscular) - including PRN medications orders - after carefully assessing the patient's condition
• observing effectiveness and documenting observations in the clinical record
• Administers vaccines - administers - reads and records PPD's Assisting selected patients with rehabilitation such as range of motion - ambulation - positioning - and self-help activities of daily living
• assisting with bowel and bladder training programs
• Assists and instructs patients on how to keep lungs clear
• Entering information about the patient's condition - an assessment of the patient's condition and a plan of action to carry out nursing care Measuring and recording vital signs - neurochecks - intake and output - weights
• collecting urine - stool - sputum and drainage specimens
• measuring and recording PH from nasogastric tubes
• measuring and recording urine specific gravity VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Work Schedule: Shift
• 7:30 a.m
• - 4:00 p.m.
• 3:30 p.m
• - midnight
• 11:30 p.m
• - 8:00 a.m.- Rotating Shifts (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs)
• 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized