Licensed Practical Nurse - CLC

Veterans Health Administration • Aspinwall, PA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides compassionate, veteran-centered nursing care in a safe, home-like environment at the Community Living Center on the HJ Heinz Campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The position serves eligible Veterans who require nursing-home-level care and provides practical nursing care to adults with a range of physical and behavioral needs. The vacancy is full-time, with rotating tours that include nights, weekends, and holidays. The full-performance level is GS-6; selection may be at GS-3 through GS-6.

The LPN administers medications and carries out treatments, observes and documents patients’ responses, and reports changes in condition. The nurse contributes to planning, implementing, and evaluating care; supports patient and family education; assists with activities of daily living and rehabilitative or restorative goals; and performs escort and sitter duties as needed. The role also includes responding to emergencies, supporting safe care for patients who display disruptive behaviors or are on suicide precautions or in restraints or seclusion, and upholding ethical and customer-service standards.

The LPN organizes and prioritizes assigned work, collaborates with the nursing team, and delegates appropriate tasks in accordance with policies and regulations. The role involves participating in unit-based performance improvement, reporting equipment or supply issues and safety hazards, pursuing ongoing education, sharing knowledge with colleagues, and serving as a preceptor, mentor, or coach. Completed work is subject to supervision or review by an RN or physician, according to the applicable grade and task.

Requirements

• Full, active, current, and unrestricted LPN or LVN licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Graduation from an approved school of practical or vocational nursing, or qualifying military nursing education or training accepted by the applicable licensing body.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to provide practical nursing care to patients with physical or behavioral problems and to carry out nursing skills and procedures.
• Ability to communicate professionally, work independently, set priorities, coordinate work, and respond to customer concerns.
• Ability to recognize urgent or emergency conditions, seek assistance, and initiate appropriate interventions.
• Ability to meet the physical standards of the position; a pre-employment physical evaluation may be required.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Grade-specific experience requirements apply: GS-3 requires no experience beyond the basic requirements; GS-4 requires six months of qualifying LPN/LVN experience, or an approved nursing-school and experience alternative, or graduation from an approved program of at least 24 months; GS-5 requires one year of qualifying experience at GS-4 or equivalent; GS-6 requires one additional year of qualifying experience at GS-5 or equivalent and fulfillment of GS-5 performance requirements.
• Must complete required pre-employment screening and onboarding, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• One year of LPN experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and behavioral problems.
• Administer medications by applicable routes and perform ordered treatments; monitor, document, and report patient responses and changes in condition.
• Participate in planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care using focused assessment.
• Provide or reinforce education for patients and families about disease processes, medications, treatments, procedures, equipment, and other relevant topics; document the effectiveness of education.
• Assist patients with activities of daily living in support of rehabilitative and restorative goals.
• Perform escort and sitter duties according to Veterans’ care needs.
• Recognize life-threatening, medical, and psychiatric emergencies; initiate or assist with CPR and other appropriate interventions, and promptly seek direction from an RN or physician.
• Use preventive and least-restrictive approaches when interacting with patients who display disruptive behaviors; follow facility policies for patients on suicide precautions or in restraints or seclusion.
• Apply ethical principles and seek assistance when ethical issues arise.
• Set priorities, coordinate assigned work, communicate professionally, and resolve customer concerns with appropriate follow-up.
• Collaborate with the care team, organize assigned work, and delegate appropriate tasks in accordance with established processes, policies, and regulations.
• Participate in unit-based performance improvement projects intended to improve patient care or outcomes.
• Identify and report equipment breakage, malfunction or loss, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies.
• Participate in educational activities, share new knowledge with staff, and serve as a preceptor, mentor, or coach to nursing staff.

Benefits

• 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.
• Eligible selected applicants 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 birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income, child-eligibility, and maximum-benefit 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 may be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

What This Job Offers

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