Licensed Practical Nurse -Patient Aligned Care Team Clinical Associate

Veterans Health Administration • Viera, FL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The PACT Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Clinical Associate provides complex practical nursing care in an Orlando VA Healthcare System outpatient clinic under the general review of a registered nurse (RN). The role involves specialized nursing activities and independent technical judgment, with completed work requiring only limited review for conformity with standards, policies, and procedures. The LPN may also serve as a leader or co-leader for a nursing unit or a group of Veterans.

The LPN assists the RN and/or provider in prioritizing Veteran care, adjusting care delivery, administering and documenting prescribed medications and treatments, and responding to changes in a Veteran’s condition. The position requires recognizing subtle physical or emotional changes, potential drug reactions, and urgent or emergent situations; promptly communicating concerns to the RN or provider; and taking appropriate action, including prescribed interventions. The LPN participates to a greater degree in prioritizing and, as appropriate, modifying patient care treatment.

The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, either 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with flexibility to meet organizational needs. The position is not eligible for telework and is not virtual. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized.

The position requires a full, active, current, unrestricted LPN/LVN license and graduation from an approved practical or vocational nursing program, subject to stated exceptions. For the GS-7 grade, applicants must have at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent and meet the listed performance requirements. The work may involve prolonged walking, standing, kneeling, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; transferring patients or objects; exposure to infected patients or contaminated materials; use of protective clothing in isolation or operative/invasive situations; and occasional exposure to combative patients.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Graduation from a practical or vocational nursing school approved by the appropriate state agency and/or accredited by NLNAC, subject to the stated exceptions.
• Full, active, current, unrestricted LPN or LVN licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• For GS-7: at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting GS-6 performance requirements.
• Ability to carry out specialized patient care duties and contribute current patient care information to the patient’s overall health plan and assigned nursing interventions.
• Ability to assist an RN and/or physician in prioritizing patient care and adjusting care delivery plans.
• Ability to notice subtle physical and emotional changes, document care and patient responses accurately, and report changes requiring higher-level intervention.
• Ability to administer and document prescribed medications and treatments, recognize potential medication reactions, and initiate prescribed interventions.
• Ability to recognize urgent or emergent care situations, seek assistance, and intervene as directed.
• Ability to support patients and families in promoting healthy lifestyles and communicate effectively with patients or family members who may be difficult to care for or communicate with.
• Ability to contribute to improved care delivery and patient or family satisfaction through participation in committees, task forces, research projects, or educational material development.
• Meet applicable background/security investigation, pre-employment testing and physical evaluation, onboarding, identification, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period if appointed.
• Meet the physical and schedule flexibility demands described for the position.

Nice To Haves

• Primary care experience.
• Collateral leadership duties, such as serving as a preceptor or participating in a unit practice council.

Responsibilities

• Provide complex and specialized practical nursing care in an outpatient clinic under general review by an RN.
• Exercise independent technical judgment and apply knowledge of complex nursing practices and procedures.
• Assist the RN and/or provider in prioritizing Veteran care needs and adjusting care delivery plans.
• Administer prescribed medications and treatments in accordance with established policies and procedures, and document administration and the Veteran’s response.
• Observe and communicate subtle physical or emotional changes in a Veteran’s condition that may require higher-level intervention.
• Recognize potential or actual medication reactions and promptly inform the RN and/or provider, initiating appropriate prescribed interventions.
• Recognize urgent or emergent care situations, seek RN and/or provider assistance, and intervene as directed to support safe and therapeutic care.
• Participate in prioritizing and, as appropriate, modifying patient care treatment.
• Potentially serve as a leader or co-leader for a nursing unit or an identified group of Veterans.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 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.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Potential childcare subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000; up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• 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 can be carried into retirement.
• Potential annual leave accrual credit based on prior federal employment or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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