Licensed Practical Nurse - Specialty (Medicine) Outpatient Clinic

Veterans Health Administration • Lexington, KY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides direct patient care within the scope of practice and is directly responsible to a Registered Nurse and/or preceptor. This vacancy is in the Outpatient Specialty Clinics at the Bowling Campus of the Lexington VA Health Care System. The LPN must be technically proficient in carrying out and completing assigned patient-care duties. The full-performance level is GS-6; applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-6.

The position follows an administrative day tour, with example schedules of 0730–1600, 0800–1630, or 0830–1700. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. The role requires regular physical activity and close work with patients and colleagues, including care for Veterans with medical and psychiatric conditions. Work may involve unpredictable patient behavior and exposure to communicable diseases, biohazard materials, and sharps; personal protective equipment is required.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an approved practical or vocational nursing school, or an applicable stated military-training or licensure exception.
• Active, full, current, and unrestricted LPN or LVN licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated grandfathering provision for eligible current VHA employees.
• Meet the grade-specific qualification criteria for the grade selected. GS-3 requires no qualifications beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 requires six months of qualifying LPN/LVN experience, or qualifying nursing-care experience after approved-school graduation, or graduation from an approved program of at least 24 months. GS-5 and GS-6 require the knowledge and abilities specified for those grades, including practical nursing care, medication administration, patient observation and reporting, emergency response, and, for GS-6, support for complex diagnostic tests or specialized procedures.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Complete required background/security investigation, online onboarding, identification and application-document requirements, and serve the applicable one- or two-year trial period.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Meet the physical requirements of the role, including regular walking, bending, lifting 45 pounds or more, stooping, reaching, stretching, and pushing medication carts, wheelchairs, lifts, and beds; possess the required visual acuity, hearing, speech, and manual dexterity; and be able to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Be able to work closely with others and care for Veterans with varied medical and psychiatric issues, including situations involving unpredictable behavior.
• Use required personal protective equipment and work with potential exposure to communicable diseases, biohazard materials, and sharps.

Nice To Haves

• Outpatient clinic experience or procedural specialty experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care within the scope of LPN practice under the responsibility of a Registered Nurse and/or preceptor.
• Initiate, perform, and complete assigned patient-care duties for variable patient populations.
• Carry out patient care based on patients’ conditions, selecting an appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments.
• Observe, identify, document, and report relevant patient information and physical or emotional changes in condition.
• Observe patients’ responses to medications and treatments and report changes in their condition.
• Prepare and administer prescribed medications, including oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous medications, and document actions taken.
• Perform treatments according to established policies and procedures.
• Recognize urgent or emergency patient-care situations and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
• Assist with resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest.
• Respond to patients’ needs for medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient or family education.
• Support complex diagnostic tests and specialized procedures by preparing patients, assisting with examinations, handling specialized instruments or equipment, and monitoring patients before, during, and after procedures.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to equipment malfunction or loss, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies.
• Communicate and work effectively with patients, family members, nursing-team members, and other staff while demonstrating customer-service principles.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave 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 childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

What This Job Offers

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