Licensed Practical Nurse - Extended Care Geriatrics

Veterans Health Administration • Washington, DC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse provides practical nursing care in Extended Care Geriatrics. Duties include preparing, administering, and documenting medications and immunizations; recognizing medication side effects, interactions, and deviations; and promptly reporting changes or concerns to providers. The LPN works within the applicable scope of practice and facility policies and collaborates with registered nurses, providers, and pharmacists regarding medication questions and changes in patient condition.

The role also includes basic nursing care, such as taking vital signs, collecting samples, and passing instruments. The nurse communicates patient clinical status verbally and in writing, initiates an appropriate emergency response, and independently provides resuscitation efforts when needed. The position’s full performance level is GS-6; applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-6. Work schedules include various shifts, weekends, and holidays. The position is not virtual, and telework is unavailable.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens 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 education exception described in the announcement.
• Active, full, current, unrestricted LPN or LVN licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated grandfathering provision for qualifying current VHA employees.
• Meet the applicable GS-grade qualification criteria: GS-3 requires no experience beyond the basic requirements; GS-4 requires one of the specified combinations of LPN/LVN experience, nursing-care experience, or approved schooling; GS-5 requires at least one year of qualifying experience at GS-4 or equivalent and the listed nursing-care competencies; GS-6 requires at least one additional year of qualifying experience at GS-5 or equivalent and the listed patient-care competencies.
• Complete required background/security investigation, pre-employment physical evaluation, onboarding, and required application documentation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual Employee Health requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as required.
• Meet the position's physical requirements, including visual acuity, hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and the ability to perform the described physical activities and patient-care duties.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate of an LPN/LVN nursing program.
• One year of LPN/LVN experience.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, administer, and document medications and immunizations in accordance with facility policies, procedures, and the LPN scope of practice.
• Apply knowledge of medication purposes, therapeutic dosage ranges, side effects, and toxic effects.
• Recognize signs of drug interactions and medication deviations, and promptly notify the provider or appropriate nursing staff.
• Collaborate with registered nurses, providers, and pharmacists regarding medication questions and changes in patient condition.
• Perform treatments and administer prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous medications as permitted by policy and scope of practice.
• Provide basic nursing care, including taking vital signs, collecting samples, and passing instruments.
• Initiate an emergency response appropriate to the situation and provide resuscitation efforts independently.
• Communicate each patient's current clinical status effectively and promptly, verbally and in writing.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and approval; award amount may be up to $200,000 for an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for qualifying circumstances.
• 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.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with a child's birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility criteria.
• 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.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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