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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. 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. Learn more Qualifications 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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Education: Graduate of a school of vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency [or] the National League for Nursing [Accrediting Commission]. Exceptions include: Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school. 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. 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. Licensure: Must have a full, current, active and unrestricted license as a graduate licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States or District of Columbia. Grade Determinations: GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements. LVN's 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. GS-4: May be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if you meet any of the criteria below: 6 months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; OR Graduation from an approved school 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 & sterile techniques & procedures; OR Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. GS-5: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent and meet the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's): Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical & or behavioral problems. Works with the RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or NAs/HTs in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery. Provides effective education to patients & 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, & or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures. Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered & 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, & assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest. Recognizes & 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-6: At least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements and meet the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's): Technically proficient in initiating, performing & 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 & 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 the 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, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors. Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) & 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, & 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, & other staff. Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings & attitudes, & to promote positive relationships, communication & 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, & or other internal/external customers Knowledge & 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 & 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, & 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 & skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve & advance nursing practice. Preferred Experience: Previous LVN experience Wound Care experience Hospice experience Rehab experience References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G-13 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Qualification Information Continued Below in the Additional Information Section. ["- This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2022. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 16, 2022, with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.\nApplicant Expiration: Applicants will remain active for 3 months after their initial application is received and/or updated. After that time, you must update your application through your USAJobs account if you would like to be made active again for possible consideration during the open period. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. The LVN performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, positive customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran. The LVN also performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, outstanding customer service, and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran. Duties include but are not limited: 1. Provides personal care and hygiene to adult and/or geriatric veteran, including bathing, oral hygiene, skin, hair and nail care, shaving and assisting with elimination.\n2. Sets up equipment and administers oxygen therapy. Assists veteran with repositioning, cough and deep breathing.\n3. Sets up equipment and care for veterans requiring oral, nasopharyngeal/tracheostomy suctioning, and performs dressing changes with tracheostomy care in a competent manner.\n4. Performs Accu-Checks; cleans, calibrates, and maintains the machine.\n5. Feeds and assists veteran in meeting nutritional needs, as necessary. Provides for fluid needs. Demonstrates competency in administration of feeding by nasogastric, gastrostomy, jejunostomy, and enteral tubes.\n6. Establishes competent skills to perform sterile and non-sterile dressing changes utilizing appropriate technique as indicated in the nursing service policy and procedures.\n7. Documents vital signs and performs other measurements, including temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure (BP), neurological and circulatory functions, height, weight, and intake and output.\n8. Provides genitourinary (GU) care, including establishment of skills to insert uncomplicated catheterizations and irrigations (indwelling), as well as external catheter care.\n9. Establishes proper technique and procedures with veterans to ensure assistive range of motion (ROM), adaptive, orthopedic and/or restrictive devices as performed.\n10. Safely performs veteran care duties requiring arduous physical exertion and use of both hands and legs, including lifting, transferring veterans, turning/repositioning adults of various body weights, and pushing/pulling a variety of carts, litters, and/or special beds/chairs.\n11. Performs nursing care based on priorities set by the Registered Nurse.\n12. Ensures that competencies for assigned/volunteered work areas are established via training and return demonstration with preceptor and documented appropriately prior to accepting work assignment.\n13. Provides Medical Administration to include accurately administers to the correct veteran, the correct dosage, utilizing the correct route, at the correct time for oral, rectal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal and topical medicines as provided for use according to nursing policy and procedure, and instructs veteran's' regarding action, dosage, frequency and side effects of medications.\n14. Veteran Safety - The LVN is expected to adhere to Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals and work with the members of the nursing care team to assure veteran safety. This performed under close supervision of the RN. Work Schedule: 12 hours tour of duty. Tours will vary based on unit needs and will include rotating weekends. May be required to work other shifts, be on call, work weekends and/or holidays as patient care and needs of the service require. Should operational needs dictate, candidates must be willing to work within other units (including community based outpatient clinics, for example) to assist and support continuation of the provision of care/services.\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 00000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]