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This Job Announcement Has Been Updated To Reflect The New LPN Salary Pay Scale This is an open continuous announcement. Applicants will be accepted on an ongoing basis and considered as vacancies become available. Applicants will remain on file until December 29, 2022, or until all vacancies are filled. The selectee practices as a Licensed Practical Nurse on High Intensity Psychiatric Unit in Mental Health. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/29/2022. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Must be a graduate of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State accrediting agency and/or the National League for Nursing at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Must have a full, current, active and unrestricted license as a graduate licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States or District of Columbia. Must pass a pre-employment examination if selected. Preferred Experience: A minimum of 3 years of successful clinical nursing practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Grade Determinations: GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher-level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved. GS-4: Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria below:· 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. Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Works with the RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or NAs/HTs in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery. Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and /or prescribed treatment regimes. Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professional and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice. Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures. Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to RN or MD/DO. Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated, promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest. Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action. Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO. Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures. However, completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review. GS-6: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN:· Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations. Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; and to accurately recognize, report and record relevant patient information. Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures. Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care and patient/family education. In organizing and delivering care, the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors. Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO. Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed. Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations, and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members, and other staff. Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members, and/or other internal/external customers. Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which include preparing the patient, assisting in the diagnostic examination, preparing and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment, and monitoring the patient's condition before, during, and following the procedure. Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex, specialized tests/procedures. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice. References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G-13 Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-0620-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 03 to 06. Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. ["The LPN is responsible for the provision of nursing services for patients and works in the Inpatient Psychiatric setting in accordance to VHA standards of care.\nDuties include but are not limited to: Implementation of approved policies and procedures; completion of required documentation in accordance with VHA, JCAHO, SOARS regulatory and accreditation requirements; Work will require encounter and care for unpredictable verbally or physically aggressive patients. Completion and performance of Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) parts 1, 2, and 3 course annually is a requirement for direct patient care. Assist the RN with ensuring completion of a comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessment through information gathering; participates in completion, documentation and implementation of treatment plan for patients; Functions as an integral member of the treatment team and assumes responsibility for assisting with completion of assessments for patients admitted to HIPU; Coordinates and assist the physician/nurse practitioner/registered nurse with medical aspects of patient's care; makes notification and referrals to appropriate discipline(s) based on assessed needs; Supports the mission and vision of inpatient unit. E.g. provides education and counseling on disease prevention, health promotion, and medication management; Conducts collection of specimen. The LPN-HIPU provides care to patients with a multiplicity of disease processes within the scope of licensed practical/vocational nurse license and provides for continuity of patient care as an integral part of Nursing throughout the facility, The LPN-HIPU has an impact on the entire VA Medical Center as he/she meets the public, works with other disciplines and service lines, and administers to the needs of the veteran patient. She/he initiates, participates and leads care for patients; participates in performance improvement initiatives; Ensures completion of clinical practice guidelines as defined by VHA Office of Quality and Performance; The LPN-HIPU initiates and participates in discharge planning. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Sunday-Saturday, 7:30 PM - 8:00 AM & 7:30 AM -8:00 PM, Subject to change based on agency needs.\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]