Licensed Practical Nurse (Community Living Center)

Veterans Health Administration • Murfreesboro, TN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This full-time Licensed Practical Nurse position serves the GEC Community Living Center at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The LPN works under the direction of the Nurse Manager with minimal supervision, using self-direction and critical thinking to complete practical nursing assignments for varied Veteran populations. The role includes coordinating community care, reviewing clinical documentation and ensuring requested services are appropriate, timely, and cost-effective.

The LPN completes clinical and administrative records and processes less clinically complex program matters under general review by an RN. The nurse oversees clinical-document uploads or faxing to the Community Care Network contractor portal, reviews community-provider records and portal information, and uploads documentation into CPRS. The position also coordinates with VA providers, Veterans and their families, community providers, and third-party administrators to help ensure authorized services are delivered. Duties include assisting with post-discharge arrangements such as prosthetics and home health so Veterans leave community facilities with appropriate medical supplies and equipment.

The position is full-time, Sunday through Saturday, with rotating weekends and holidays. Telework is not available. The full-performance level is GS-6, and applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-6. The position requires physical activity including lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, and pulling. It also involves use of safe patient-handling equipment, intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids, and fluoroscopy exposure requiring lead protective equipment for extended periods.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exceptions for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Must meet applicable Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse qualification and licensure requirements; applicants awaiting educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred but cannot be hired until requirements are met.
• For GS-4, meet at least one stated qualification path: six months of qualifying LPN/LVN experience; graduation from an approved school plus one year of qualifying nursing-care work; or graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months' duration.
• For GS-5, at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent, along with the stated practical nursing knowledge and abilities, including patient care, medication administration and documentation, patient/family education, teamwork, and emergency response.
• For GS-6, at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent and full satisfaction of GS-5 performance requirements, including technical proficiency, independent judgment in assigned care, recognition and reporting of patient needs and changes, and appropriate emergency response.
• Ability to perform job-related physical duties involving lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, or pulling without assistance from another patient-care provider or significant other.
• Ability to use safe patient-handling equipment and wear lead protective equipment for extended periods.
• Successfully complete a health examination before assignment and periodically thereafter as required by Employee Health Clinic policy.
• Meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, required urinalysis for testing-designated positions, seasonal influenza vaccination, onboarding, and required application documentation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.

Nice To Haves

• Long-term care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform practical nursing duties within the scope of the license for variable Veteran populations, using self-direction and critical thinking.
• Review community care consults in accordance with VHA guidance to ensure requested and provided services are appropriate, timely, and cost-effective.
• Complete clinical and administrative records and process less clinically complex program matters under general RN review.
• Oversee clinical-document uploads or faxing by Advanced Medical Support Assistants to the Community Care Network contractor portal.
• Review community-provider medical records and the CCN portal, and upload documentation into CPRS.
• Coordinate care through telephone and in-person contacts with VA providers, Veterans and their families or significant others, community providers, and third-party administrators.
• Assist with coordination of community post-discharge needs, including prosthetics and home health, to help ensure Veterans have appropriate medical supplies and equipment upon discharge.
• Provide nursing care, administer and document medications and treatments, observe and report changes in patient condition, and respond to urgent or emergent care situations as appropriate to the grade and scope of practice.
• Educate patients and family members about common disease processes, medications, and prescribed treatment regimens as appropriate to the grade.
• Support diagnostic tests or specialized procedures, including patient preparation, assistance during examinations, equipment handling, and patient monitoring as appropriate to the grade.
• Orient, educate, or train less experienced LPNs/LVNs, nursing assistants, or health technicians as appropriate to the grade.
• Recognize and report equipment malfunctions, safety hazards, or supply deficiencies.
• Maintain patient and family privacy and dignity and incorporate customer-service standards into interactions.

Benefits

• 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.
• Potential 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 of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility rules; subsidy is up to 25% of eligible childcare costs and up to $416.66 per month.
• 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 programs can be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.

What This Job Offers

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