Licensed Practical Nurse- Laboratory (Oconomowoc VA Clinic)

Veterans Health Administration • Oconomowoc, WI

15h • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) GS-7 performs complex nursing assignments in a specialized practice setting under general supervision. The position provides quality nursing care to a culturally diverse veteran population with varying levels of complexity in a primary care clinic and laboratory setting. The nurse applies practical nursing knowledge within a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice, contributes to patient care planning, observes and documents patient conditions and responses, and communicates changes requiring higher-level intervention. The LPN/LVN also supports patient education, customer service, and safe care delivery, and may serve as a resource and mentor to other staff.

Laboratory work includes collecting and labeling specimens, performing phlebotomy and glucometer testing, and collecting stool guaiac, throat culture, and urine specimens. The nurse accessiones and processes specimens, prepares them in appropriate containers, spins and stores them as needed, and ensures transport to the medical center. The position also cleans and maintains the laboratory, keeps it ready for inspection and CAP survey, performs quality and safety checks, and cleans and stocks assigned clinical areas.

Other clinical duties may include dressing changes, wound care, 12-lead ECGs, ear irrigation, suture removal, bladder scans, Foley catheter placement when ordered, and oxygen tank and adapter setup. The nurse collects and documents patient data such as vital signs, height, weight, and finger-stick results in the electronic health record, reports abnormal values to the nurse or provider, may administer preventive immunizations, and collects patient information before provider visits. Other duties may be assigned within the laboratory and primary care clinic. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available; this is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• Graduate of a state-approved or appropriately accredited practical or vocational nursing program; transcripts are required.
• Full, active, current, and unrestricted LPN or LVN licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a copy of the license is required.
• At least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, meeting GS-6 LPN/LVN performance requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills for specialized patient-care duties in complex inpatient and/or outpatient settings.
• Ability to contribute to patient health-plan development, prioritize care with an RN and/or MD/DO, and adjust care delivery as appropriate.
• Ability to recognize subtle physical and emotional changes, document care and patient responses accurately, and seek assistance when higher-level intervention is needed.
• Ability to administer prescribed medications and treatments according to established procedures, document administration and responses, and recognize potential drug reactions.
• Ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient-care situations, seek assistance, and intervene as directed to support safe care.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and families, including those who are difficult to care for or communicate with, and to support health education.
• Ability to exercise independent technical judgment under general supervision and to support, guide, or monitor other staff as appropriate.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, except where VA policy permits appointment of a non-citizen when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must complete required pre-employment screening and onboarding, including background/security investigation, drug testing when applicable, and pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements.
• Physical ability to walk, bend, stoop, and lift while providing direct patient care, with some extended periods of sitting and/or standing.

Responsibilities

• Collect and label specimens, including phlebotomy, glucometer testing, stool guaiac, throat cultures, and urine specimens.
• Accession and process specimens, prepare specimens in appropriate containers, spin and store them as needed, and arrange for courier transport to the medical center.
• Clean and maintain the laboratory and prepare it for inspection and CAP survey.
• Clean assigned examination rooms, procedure areas, equipment, and workstations; stock and organize supplies and equipment.
• Perform quality-control checks and safety-equipment checks.
• Perform clinical procedures as needed, which may include dressing changes, wound care, 12-lead ECGs, ear irrigation or lavage, suture removal, bladder scans, ordered Foley catheter placement, and oxygen tank or adapter setup.
• Collect and document patient data, including vital signs, height, weight, finger-stick results, and observations of overall condition, in the electronic health record.
• Report abnormal patient measurements or values to the nurse and/or provider.
• May administer preventive health-maintenance immunizations, such as influenza, pneumonia, and tetanus vaccines, and provide and explain cancer-screening stool cards.
• Collect and document patient information before provider visits, including health-prevention information and clinical reminders or electronic health screens.
• Contribute to patient-care planning and prioritization, observe and document changes in patient condition and responses to care, and notify the RN or MD/DO when changes require higher-level intervention.
• Assist with prescribed medications and treatments, recognize potential reactions, and promptly inform the RN or MD/DO of observed changes.
• Support patients and families in promoting healthy lifestyles and apply customer-service standards in patient care.
• Assist the RN or MD/DO in monitoring non-licensed nursing or medical staff and report deviations from normal practice patterns.
• Support and mentor nursing staff in specialized procedures and practices, and seek educational opportunities to improve nursing knowledge and skills.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the laboratory and primary care clinic.

Benefits

• 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 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 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 family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• 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: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed