Licensed Vocational Nurse - Inpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Dallas, TX

35d • Onsite

About The Position

The primary purpose of the Licensed Practical/License Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) is to perform assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, positive customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran. The LPN/LVN performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, outstanding customer service, and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran. Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties are but not limited to: Veteran Care: The LVN is expected to be able to function as a member of the nursing care team providing safe, competent, compassionate care in a timely manner. Provides care with minimal RN supervision to a select group of patients. Performs and documents focused assessments (i.e. pain assessment, fall risk assessment) and reports abnormal findings to the RN team leader, or charge nurse. Performs Accu-Check glucoscreen, takes and records vital signs and reports all significant deviations to the RN and/or health care provider immediately. Takes appropriate action as directed. Evaluates the nutritional needs for patients, including feeding assistance, and performs as necessary. Provides fluid needs and administers feeding by nasogastric, gastrostomy, jejunostomy, and enteral tubes. Actively participates in interdisciplinary team planning and patient care meetings. Utilizes problem-solving process when patient problems arise. Informs RN about data obtained pertaining to the problem. Offers solutions to problems and offers feedback to ancillary members emphasizing ways to improve performance. Accepts and mentors non-RN staff and student nurses. Independently establishes priorities and varies the sequence of nursing care based on the patient's condition and/or response to treatment in order to accomplish assigned tasks by the end of the tour with limited supervision. Medical Administration: The LVN is expected to be able to administer veteran medications utilizing the five rights, and to appropriately document the medication administration. Demonstrates proficiency in utilizing the Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) scanner to administer medications to a group of patients safely and efficiently. Is able to serve as a preceptor for other LVNs, and can instruct others in the appropriate use of BCMA for medication administration. Veteran Safety: The LVN is expected to adhere to work with the members of the nursing care team to assure veteran safety. Is able to verbalize understanding of the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) and the means by which VANTHCS is assuring that these goals are met. Operates and is familiar with equipment utilized for physiological monitoring, ventilation, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps, pulse oximeter, and blood/fluid warmers if assigned in areas where in use. Identifies documents and reports fall risk, confused/wandering patients to all staff. Recognizes and reports potential safety hazards and takes appropriate action to address the problem. Documentation/Communication/Hand-Off: Accurately documents all critical finding in the CPRS medical record. Demonstrates ability to perform and document focused assessments utilizing established CPRS templates. Demonstrates the ability to clearly communicate the patients' care needs during hand - off. Coordinates team planning, makes assignments for non-RN team members and follows for accomplishment of delegated assignments.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) at the time the program was completed by the applicant.
• Full, active, current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.
• GS-3: Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; OR, Graduation from an approved school and one year of experience that involved nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures; OR, Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
• GS-5: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent.
• GS-6: Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN.

Nice To Haves

• At least 1-year of LVN direct patient care experience.
• At least 1 year of Mental Health experience (LVN or NA experience accepted)
• Familiar with Mental Health/Behavioral Health treatment plans.
• Demonstrated experience with therapeutic communication, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and maintaining a safe therapeutic environment.
• Familiarity with suicide prevention, patient observation levels, contraband/hazardous-item precautions, and behavioral health safety practices preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, positive customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran.
• Function as a member of the nursing care team providing safe, competent, compassionate care in a timely manner.
• Provide care with minimal RN supervision to a select group of patients.
• Perform and document focused assessments (e.g., pain assessment, fall risk assessment) and report abnormal findings to the RN team leader or charge nurse.
• Perform Accu-Check glucoscreen, take and record vital signs, and report all significant deviations to the RN and/or health care provider immediately.
• Take appropriate action as directed.
• Evaluate the nutritional needs for patients, including feeding assistance, and perform as necessary.
• Provide fluid needs and administer feeding by nasogastric, gastrostomy, jejunostomy, and enteral tubes.
• Actively participate in interdisciplinary team planning and patient care meetings.
• Utilize the problem-solving process when patient problems arise.
• Inform RN about data obtained pertaining to the problem.
• Offer solutions to problems and provide feedback to ancillary members emphasizing ways to improve performance.
• Accept and mentor non-RN staff and student nurses.
• Independently establish priorities and vary the sequence of nursing care based on the patient's condition and/or response to treatment to accomplish assigned tasks by the end of the tour with limited supervision.
• Administer veteran medications utilizing the five rights, and appropriately document the medication administration.
• Demonstrate proficiency in utilizing the Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) scanner to administer medications to a group of patients safely and efficiently.
• Serve as a preceptor for other LVNs, and instruct others in the appropriate use of BCMA for medication administration.
• Adhere to work with the members of the nursing care team to assure veteran safety.
• Verbalize understanding of the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) and the means by which VANTHCS is assuring that these goals are met.
• Operate and be familiar with equipment utilized for physiological monitoring, ventilation, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps, pulse oximeter, and blood/fluid warmers if assigned in areas where in use.
• Identify, document, and report fall risk, confused/wandering patients to all staff.
• Recognize and report potential safety hazards and take appropriate action to address the problem.
• Accurately document all critical findings in the CPRS medical record.
• Demonstrate ability to perform and document focused assessments utilizing established CPRS templates.
• Demonstrate the ability to clearly communicate the patients' care needs during hand-off.
• Coordinate team planning, make assignments for non-RN team members, and follow for accomplishment of delegated assignments.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year).
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree