Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse (Nursing, Mental Health)

Veterans Health Administration • Bedford, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This full-time, 40-hour-per-week Practical Nurse position is in Nursing Service (Mental Health), at the VA Bedford Healthcare System in Bedford, Massachusetts. The announcement is intended to fill multiple vacancies across the medical center. The selected nurse provides direct care to adult through geriatric patients under the direct supervision of an RN, MD, DO, NP, or PA, recognizing and addressing age-related cognitive, physical, emotional, and developmental needs. Nurses may be assigned to inpatient units throughout the hospital, including Mental Health, Acute Psychiatric, Long Term Psychiatric, Residential, Long Term Care, Short Term Care, Hospice, Rehabilitation, and Dementia units, and may float to meet staffing and patient-care needs. Multiple tours are available; the schedule is discussed at interview and determined upon selection. Shifts may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, or holidays, and may change based on patient and facility needs. Telework is not available.

Requirements

• Full, active, current, and unrestricted LPN or LVN licensure in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, unless qualifying under the stated grandfathering provision.
• Graduate from an approved school of practical or vocational nursing, subject to the stated exceptions for qualifying military training and other provisions.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the applicable grade-level qualifications: GS-3 requires no experience beyond the basic requirements; GS-4 requires six months of qualifying LPN/LVN experience, or the specified combination of approved education and patient-care experience, or graduation from an approved program of at least 24 months; GS-5 requires at least one year of qualifying GS-4-level experience and the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities; GS-6 requires at least one additional year of qualifying GS-5-level experience and the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-5 and GS-6, demonstrate applicable nursing knowledge and skills, including patient care, medication administration and documentation, patient education, teamwork, recognition of emergencies, and response to changes in patient condition.
• Meet pre-employment and continuing conditions, including U.S. citizenship subject to the stated VA exception, background/security investigation, and required seasonal influenza vaccination.
• Complete employee health requirements and be able to work effectively in stressful situations while shifting priorities according to patient needs.
• Meet the physical requirements of the position, including visual acuity, hearing, clear speech, and manual dexterity; the ability to perform prolonged walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; and the ability to transfer patients and objects when required.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience in Mental Health/Detox work.

Responsibilities

• Collect data and collaborate in assessing patients’ health status.
• Implement delegated aspects of the plan of care and participate in evaluating patient responses to interventions.
• Participate in delegated health teaching and counseling to promote and maintain patients’ health.
• Recognize, report, and document changes in patients’ physical condition or behavior, including critical and emergency situations.
• Complete routine documentation of care and treatment in the electronic record and information network according to applicable policies and procedures.
• Differentiate emergent from non-emergent conditions and promptly seek assistance when needed.
• Provide practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and behavioral needs under appropriate supervision.
• Observe, identify, and respond to patient-care needs, including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient and family education.
• Support complex diagnostic tests and specialized practices or procedures.
• Float among inpatient units as needed to support hospital staffing and patient-care needs.
• Prepare and administer prescribed medications and perform treatments as permitted by facility policies and procedures.
• Recognize safety hazards, equipment malfunctions, or supply deficiencies and report them to appropriate personnel.
• Assist with emergency interventions and resuscitation procedures as directed.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility based on position type and other factors.
• Selected applicants may request credit for prior work or military service toward annual leave accrual; approval is required and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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