Licensed Practical Nurse (Long Term Care) - Education Debt Reduction Program Authorized

Veterans Health Administration • Amarillo, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse provides direct nursing and personal care to residents in a Community Living Center (CLC), with duties including activities of daily living, hygiene, restorative care, feeding assistance, end-of-life care, and post-mortem care. The nurse is expected to demonstrate compassion and respect, understand resident preferences, protect privacy and dignity, and follow CLC procedures and the restraint-free environment policy.

The role includes responding promptly to resident needs and nurse-call and Wanderguard alarms; completing resident skin reassessments, wound care, treatments, medication-related documentation, and other daily or shift documentation; and using VA systems and software to record care. The nurse applies infection-control and customer-service practices, understands unit neighborhoods and workflows, and assists and appropriately delegates to other staff to support resident care.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. The authorized award may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. The position is not telework or virtual. The full performance level is GS-06; selection may be at GS-03 through GS-06.

Requirements

• Graduate from a practical or vocational nursing school approved by the appropriate state agency and/or accredited by NLNAC at the time of completion, or meet a stated VA education exception.
• Hold active, full, current, and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Meet the experience or education requirements for the selected grade: GS-03 has no additional requirements beyond the basic requirements; GS-04 requires qualifying experience or an applicable education pathway; GS-05 requires at least one year of qualifying experience at GS-04 or equivalent; GS-06 requires at least one additional year of qualifying experience at GS-05 or equivalent and meeting GS-05 performance requirements.
• Demonstrate practical nursing knowledge and ability appropriate to the selected grade, including patient care, medication administration and documentation, observation and reporting of changes in condition, and response to urgent or emergency situations.
• Be a U.S. citizen, except where VA policy permits appointment of a non-citizen when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, drug testing for testing-designated positions, and seasonal influenza vaccination.
• Submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment if seeking EDRP reimbursement and meeting program eligibility requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Long-term care experience.
• Proficiency in medication administration.
• Two years of nursing experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily resident care, including activities of daily living, dressing, hygiene, nail care, toileting, restorative programs, feeding assistance, end-of-life care, and post-mortem care.
• Demonstrate a caring, compassionate, and respectful attitude and honor resident preferences, privacy, and dignity.
• Understand and follow CLC neighborhood processes, resident-care procedures, room entry and exit processes, and unit workflow.
• Respond promptly and appropriately to nurse-call, phone, and Wanderguard alarms and resident situations.
• Complete weekly skin reassessment VANOD notes and daily or shift documentation, including applicable wound care, pain, medication, behavior, vaccine, IV, antibiotic, treatment, glucose testing, nursing reassessment, ADL, and nursing notes.
• Perform wound care and treatments as ordered by a physician, including assessment and documentation for preventative wound care.
• Use VA computer systems and software, including CPRS, BCMA, and EMR, as well as Microsoft Office, to locate forms and document care.
• Follow infection-control and customer-service practices, including Veteran-centered care, resident preferences, and Cultural Transformation.
• Assist other staff as necessary to ensure proper care and delegate duties as appropriate for the position.
• Recognize and report changes in a patient's condition, safety hazards, equipment problems, or supply deficiencies; seek assistance and initiate emergency measures as appropriate to the assigned grade and established procedures.
• Prepare and administer prescribed medications and perform treatments in accordance with established policies and procedures and the nurse's scope of practice.
• Support complex diagnostic tests or specialized procedures, including preparing patients and equipment and monitoring the patient's condition, as assigned.
• Orient, educate, or train less experienced nursing staff or nursing assistants as applicable to the position and grade.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the 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 income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.
• Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to individual eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000.

What This Job Offers

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