Licensed Practical Nurse - PACT - Fort Meade CBOC

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Meade, MD

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team and provides regular, recurring care to selected patients at the Fort Meade VA Outpatient Clinic. The LPN performs standard and specialized practical nursing activities, carrying out recurring duties independently and seeking guidance when needed to ensure quality patient care. Care is organized with consideration for patients’ emotional, cultural, spiritual, and age-related factors. The LPN also pursues educational opportunities and shares acquired knowledge with staff to advance nursing practice.

As an essential member of the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), the LPN performs daily and two-week patient scrubbing, patient check-in, clinical reminders, and two-day follow-up calls after Emergency Department visits. The LPN provides coverage in the laboratory and specialty clinics during staff absences, gives providers a warm handoff after check-in, administers vaccinations, performs point-of-care testing, obtains vital signs and EKGs, and reinforces patient teaching.

This is a full-time position scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling and telework are not authorized. The position is not virtual. The full-performance level is GS-06; applicants may be selected at GS-03 through GS-06.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an approved practical or vocational nursing program, or a stated qualifying military-training or licensure exception.
• Active, full, current, and unrestricted LPN/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 experience and qualification criteria for the selected grade: GS-03 requires no additional qualification beyond the basic requirements; GS-04 requires qualifying experience or education as specified; GS-05 requires at least one year of qualifying experience at GS-04 level or equivalent; GS-06 requires the stated nursing knowledge and competencies.
• Ability to provide practical nursing care, recognize and respond to patient needs and changes in condition, and carry out assigned treatments and medication-related duties appropriate to the grade.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and background/security investigation; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-employment drug screening.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required application and onboarding requirements and serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Must be physically and mentally able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

• PACT experience is strongly preferred.
• Two years of LPN experience in an ambulatory/primary-care and/or medical-surgical setting is strongly preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills are highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Provide regular and recurring practical nursing care to selected patients as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• Independently complete recurring standard and specialized nursing duties, and seek guidance when necessary to ensure quality care.
• Consider patients’ emotional, cultural, spiritual, and age-related factors when organizing and delivering care.
• Pursue educational opportunities and share knowledge with staff to improve nursing practice.
• Perform daily and two-week PACT patient scrubbing.
• Check patients in, complete clinical reminders, and provide a warm handoff to the provider.
• Make two-day follow-up calls to patients after Emergency Department visits.
• Provide coverage in the laboratory and specialty clinics during absences.
• Administer vaccinations and perform point-of-care testing.
• Obtain vital signs and EKGs.
• Reinforce patient teaching.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual for 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.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income, child eligibility, and program 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 can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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