Practical Nurse (LTC)

Veterans Health Administration • Syracuse, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) provides practical nursing care to Veterans in long-term care and related settings, including short-term rehabilitation, respite, hospice/palliative care, and psychiatric care. The nurse performs assigned duties under close supervision of the Nurse Manager or designee, promoting quality health care, positive customer service, and a resident-centered environment.

The position involves supporting residents’ physical and emotional needs, communicating respectfully with residents, families, visitors, and the health care team, and protecting residents’ privacy, dignity, and rights. The LPN/LVN responds to calls for assistance, provides emotional support, advocates for Veterans and their families, and reports incidents and changes in condition. Duties include responding to emergencies and performing oropharyngeal, tracheostomy, and tracheal suctioning, as well as tracheostomy and laryngectomy care.

The scheduled hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the possibility of flexing to overnight hours. Compressed or flexible scheduling, telework, and virtual work are not authorized. The position is permanent and full-time by the employment-type default; recruitment and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Graduate from a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, subject to the stated exceptions for qualifying military training or licensure jurisdictions.
• Hold active, full, current, and unrestricted LPN/LVN licensure in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet the experience and competency criteria for the grade selected: GS-3 requires no experience beyond the basic requirements; GS-4 requires one of the listed qualifying experience or education alternatives; GS-5 requires at least one year of qualifying GS-4-level experience and the listed nursing competencies; GS-6 requires at least one year of additional qualifying GS-5-level experience and the listed competencies.
• For GS-5, demonstrate knowledge and ability to provide a range of practical nursing care, educate patients or families, work as a nursing-team member, administer and document medications as authorized, recognize emergencies, and report equipment, safety, or supply problems.
• For GS-6, demonstrate technical proficiency in assigned patient care, sound judgment in sequencing procedures and treatments, accurate observation and reporting, medication and treatment administration, response to urgent situations, effective patient and family relationships, and support for complex diagnostic tests or specialized procedures.
• Be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including applicable urinalysis, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation or examination; complete online onboarding and application requirements.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements if applicable.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.
• Only qualifying education from recognized institutions may be used; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in long-term care or hospice care.

Responsibilities

• Explain procedures to residents in understandable language while considering individual needs.
• Maintain a physical and emotional environment consistent with resident-centered care.
• Respond calmly and consistently to work situations and accept temporary reassignment to meet patient-care needs.
• Respond promptly and courteously to residents’ calls for assistance, making customer service a focus of interactions.
• Communicate respectfully and work effectively with administrative staff, the health care team, unit staff, residents, and visitors.
• Provide emotional support to residents and their families or significant others as they adjust to illness or changes in health status.
• Build constructive relationships with residents to elicit feelings and attitudes and promote positive relationships, communication, and socialization.
• Support hospice and palliative care needs as indicated by resident self-determination.
• Protect residents’ and families’ rights to privacy and dignity and serve as an advocate for Veterans and their families or significant others.
• Carry out complex practical nursing assignments for long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, respite, hospice/palliative care, and psychiatric residents requiring skilled nursing care.
• Promptly report untoward incidents, such as medication errors and falls, to the Charge Nurse or Nursing Supervisor and initiate an incident report.
• Initiate appropriate emergency response teams, including Rapid Response Team, Code Blue, and Stroke-Cardiac alerts, and respond to emergencies such as cardiopulmonary arrest, choking, disasters, or fire drills.
• Use knowledge of human behavior, motivations, and reactions to work effectively with patients, families, and staff.
• Perform oropharyngeal, tracheostomy, and tracheal suctioning, and provide tracheostomy and laryngectomy care.
• At applicable grades, prepare, administer, and document prescribed medications and treatments; observe and report patient responses or changes in condition.
• At applicable grades, assist with complex diagnostic tests and specialized procedures, including patient preparation, equipment handling, and monitoring.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases; a higher step within the grade may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 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.
• 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.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility 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.

What This Job Offers

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