Patient Aligned Care Team - Practical Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • Bradenton, FL

1d

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at the GS-7 level performs complex nursing assignments in a care setting, applying comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and specialized procedural skills. The work involves considerable difficulty and responsibility and is performed under general supervision. The LPN exercises independent technical judgment and works collaboratively with registered nurses (RNs), health care providers (HCPs), and other staff to support veteran care.

The LPN observes and documents veterans’ conditions, care, and responses; carries out nursing procedures appropriate to the assigned area; responds to changes in condition, including urgent or emergent situations; and contributes to individualized care plans and quality improvement. The role also supports veterans in achieving maximum functional potential through activities such as ambulation, personal care, range-of-motion exercises, and fall prevention. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is not a virtual position; ad-hoc telework is noted.

Requirements

• Graduate of an approved or appropriately accredited practical or vocational nursing program, or meet the stated military-training or licensing-jurisdiction exceptions.
• Active, full, current, and unrestricted LPN/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.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-7 advancement, at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting GS-6 LPN/LVN performance requirements.
• Knowledge and skills to perform specialized patient-care duties in complex inpatient and/or outpatient settings.
• Ability to help prioritize patient-care needs, adjust care delivery plans, recognize subtle physical and emotional changes, and take appropriate action.
• Ability to assist with medication and treatment needs, administer prescribed medications and treatments accurately, and record patient responses.
• Ability to recognize potential urgent or emergent patient-care situations promptly.
• Ability to help patients and families take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles.
• Communication and interpersonal skills to work with difficult-to-care-for or difficult-to-communicate-with patients and family members, including those who may be resistant, abusive, have limited self-control, or have difficulty understanding or following instructions.
• Skill, creativity, and initiative in contributing to improved care delivery and patient and family satisfaction.
• Comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and specialized procedural skills sufficient to serve as a resource for staff in complex or specialized patient care.
• Ability to support RN or MD/DO oversight of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff involved in patient care.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, except where VA policy permits appointment of non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must meet pre-employment requirements, including applicable background/security investigation, drug testing for testing-designated positions, and physical evaluation/examination.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required application and onboarding steps and serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Physical ability to stand for prolonged periods; bend, reach, crouch, stoop, stretch, and lift moderately heavy items; and perform work requiring above-average agility and dexterity.
• A valid driver’s license is required if travel between VA locations and/or community-based outpatient clinics is required.

Nice To Haves

• Outpatient clinic experience.
• At least three years of LPN experience.
• Phlebotomy experience.

Responsibilities

• Promote and demonstrate nursing concepts in the Medical Center.
• Work collaboratively with RNs and/or health care providers.
• Document care, observations, and patient responses using appropriate tools or forms, and observe for changes in patients’ conditions.
• Perform nursing procedures as appropriate to the assigned area, including sterile techniques, blood glucose monitoring, catheterization, suctioning, wound care, colostomy care, tube feeding, tracheotomy care, oxygen therapy, deep breathing and coughing, and specimen collection, in accordance with policy, guidelines, and senior nursing staff oversight.
• Follow the Standard Operating Procedure for pretreatment and cleaning of Reusable Medical Devices in applicable patient care settings.
• Assist staff in prioritizing overall veteran care needs and adjust the plan of care as needed.
• Recognize obvious and subtle changes in veterans’ health and respond promptly to deterioration or emergencies, notifying appropriate personnel in a timely manner.
• Accurately report and record significant information received from team members, analyze it, and implement appropriate modifications.
• Communicate effectively with veterans, families, caregivers, professionals, and supportive staff, working independently with intermittent readily available supervision.
• Support veterans in attaining maximum functional potential through interventions such as ambulation, bowel and bladder training, dressing, grooming, bathing, oral hygiene, range-of-motion exercises, and fall prevention.
• Participate in unit-based and/or organizational Shared Governance councils, applying clinical expertise, evidence-based practice, and knowledge to help develop solutions that improve quality of care.
• Assist RNs or physicians in addressing patient needs for medications and treatments, administering prescribed medications and treatments, and recording patient responses.
• Support RNs or physicians in monitoring unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Potential recruitment or relocation incentive for highly qualified candidates.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 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.
• Potential childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility criteria.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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