Licensed Practical Nurse (Community Living Center)

Veterans Health Administration • Murfreesboro, TN

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) serves in GEC CLC at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The role provides practical nursing care and supports quality health care, positive customer service, and an environment focused on serving Veterans. The LPN works under the direction of the Nurse Manager with minimal supervision, using self-direction and critical thinking to carry out practical nursing assignments for varied Veteran populations.

The LPN reviews community care consults under VHA guidance to ensure requested and provided services are appropriate, timely, and cost-effective. The position completes clinical and administrative records and processes less clinically complex program matters under general review by an RN. The LPN oversees clinical-document uploads or faxing by Advanced Medical Support Assistants to the Community Care Network Contractor portal, reviews community-provider medical records and portal information, and uploads documentation into CPRS.

The LPN coordinates care by communicating with VA providers, Veterans and their families or significant others, community providers, and third-party administrators to help ensure authorized services are delivered. The role also assists with coordinating community post-discharge needs, including prosthetics and home health, so Veterans leave community care facilities with appropriate medical supplies and equipment.

Requirements

• Current qualification as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse, meeting applicable VA qualification standards and licensure requirements.
• United States citizenship, except where a non-citizen appointment is permitted under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Meet the experience or education criteria for the grade at which selected: GS-3 has no requirements beyond the basic requirements; GS-4 may be met through six months of qualifying LPN/LVN experience, specified supervised nursing-care experience after approved-school graduation, or graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months; GS-5 requires at least one year of qualifying GS-4-level experience; GS-6 requires at least one additional year of qualifying GS-5-level experience and meeting GS-5 performance requirements.
• Demonstrate practical nursing knowledge and ability appropriate to the grade, including patient care, medication administration and documentation, observation and reporting of patient changes, emergency response, and adherence to established policies and procedures.
• Complete a background/security investigation and required onboarding; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA health care personnel.
• Complete the required health examination and meet the physical ability requirements for job-related duties, including lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, and pulling.
• Wear lead protective equipment for extended periods and use Safe Patient Handling equipment; the role includes intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids and exposure to fluoroscopy.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period if appointed.
• Submit education credentials from recognized accredited institutions when using education to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical nursing care to varied Veteran populations under the direction of the Nurse Manager, with minimal supervision.
• Review community care consults in accordance with VHA guidance for appropriateness, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness.
• Complete clinical and administrative records and process less clinically complex program matters under general RN review.
• Oversee Advanced Medical Support Assistants' upload or faxing of clinical documents to the Community Care Network Contractor portal.
• Review community-provider medical records and CCN portal information, then upload documentation into CPRS.
• Coordinate care through telephone or in-person contact with VA providers, Veterans, family members or significant others, community providers, and third-party administrators.
• Assist with coordinating post-discharge community-care needs, including prosthetics and home health, and ensure appropriate medical supplies and equipment are available at discharge.
• Administer and document prescribed medications and treatments within applicable policies and procedures; observe and report changes in patient condition.
• Recognize urgent or emergency care situations, seek clinical assistance, and initiate appropriate interventions as directed.
• Support patient education, patient and family communication, dignity, privacy, and customer service.
• Recognize and report equipment malfunctions, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies.
• Assist with complex diagnostic tests or specialized procedures and orient or train less experienced staff when required by grade-level duties.
• Work a full-time schedule Sunday through Saturday, including rotating weekends and holidays.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Paid parental leave of up to 12 weeks after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a child care subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income, eligible-child, and program limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance programs; many may be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• Selected applicants may qualify for annual-leave accrual credit for prior work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed