Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) vacancies in the Community Living Center (CLC) at the Erie VA Medical Center & will remain open until 12/31/2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 11/24/2025 - with subsequent cut-off dates weekly. (LPN) is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants - as appropriate to the setting.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Education - 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
• Exceptions include health care education in the military service or training in the military service which is accepted by the licensing body in the jurisdiction in which the individual is licensed as qualifying for full LPN/LVN licensure will be accepted as meeting the education requirements for VHA employment OR granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVN
• Licensure - Active - full - current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - of the United States or the District of Columbia
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS-03 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-04 (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• or(b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) 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 (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• GS-05 Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Ability to serve as a responsible member of a nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients - family members - professional and/or other support personnel involved in the delivery of patient care
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare - administer - and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous medications
• This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting noted changes in the patient's condition
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardia and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies
• GS-06 Proficiency 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 - using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments - and accurately recognizing - reporting - and recording relevant patient information Ability to observe - identify - and respond to a 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 - 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 - documents - and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directed
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations and the 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 - 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 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 includes preparing the patient and 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
• Preferred Experience and Certifications 2-3 years of experience as in LPN/LVN experience related to the area of deployment Basic Life Support (BLS)

Duties

• This position will report directly to the Manager - Community Living CenterDuties include but are not limited to: Explains procedures to patients - using language which they understand and displays consideration of individual age related and gender specific patient needs
• Ensures that the physical and emotional environment is consistent with the vision for patient centered care
• Maintains self-control and responds consistently to the requirements of the work situation
• Maintains a positive attitude in accepting temporary reassignment to meet patient care needs Responds to patients calls for assistance promptly and interacts with the patient in a tactful - courteous manner - making customer service the focus of all interactions
• Communicates respectfully and works effectively with administrative staff - the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) - patients - and visitors
• Orients patients to the clinic
• Provides emotional support to patients - and families/significant others to assist them in adjusting to changes brought about by illness or change in health status
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and self-direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing assignments - including assignments for selected acute care - long-term or ambulatory care - or psychiatric patients requiring skilled nursing care
• Completes assigned duties and responsibilities which involve performing non standard and specialized practical nursing activities - requiring broad work experience and demonstrated skill sufficient to resolve a range of nursing problems
• Demonstrates ability to accurately report and record significant patient information and uses good judgment in selecting the most appropriate application of procedures and guidelines - varying the order and sequence of assigned procedures based on the patients' condition
• Completed work needs only a general review by a RN for technical soundness - appropriateness and conformity with policy and nursing assignments
• Prepares and administers prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - inhaled - injectable - and suppository medications according to policy and procedure
• Correctly documents medications given or omitted in Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) according to established policy and procedures
• Documents effects of medications
• Recognizes emergent or acute situations - responds appropriately - and reports to the RN or provider promptly
• Reports untoward patient incidents - including medication errors - to Charge Nurse/Nursing Supervisor - and initiates incident report
• Responds appropriately to emergency situations including cardiopulmonary arrest - choking - and disaster or fire drills
• Demonstrates practical knowledge of human behavior - motivations and reactions to situations
• Uses this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family and other staff members
• Provides teaching in activities of daily living (ADL's) to patients and encourages them to participate in ADL's leading to increased independence
• Provides or reinforces patient teaching related to medications - disease process - procedures - and self-care activities
• Participates in more complex teaching for patient self-care - such as diabetic care - self-catheterization - etc
• Performs the most complex treatments and procedures according to policy - including but not limited to: range of motion exercises - application of heat and cold - wound care changing complex sterile and clean dressings - weights - vital signs
• Collects specimens such as blood - urine - sputum - and stool for laboratory analysis
• Sets up for and performs treatments that require auxiliary equipment - for example: oxygen - spirometry - nebulizer treatments - and standard 12 lead EKG's (after demonstrating competence)
• Adheres to and appropriately utilizes the Safe Patient Handling Program standards - practices - and recommendations
• Lifts and transfers - according to policy and procedure - seeking assistance when appropriate - to prevent injury to the patient and self
• Prepares patients for tests - examinations - and treatments
• Applies assistive/protective devices such as - splints - binders - or prosthetic appliances
• Documents observations - therapeutic measures performed - and care provided following established policy and procedure
• Collects subjective and objective data which contributes to the RN assessment and/or the patient reassessment
• Work Schedule: 0730-2000
• Rotating weekends and holidays
• Position will be either days/evenings or evenings/nights (not sure how you want to word this - but there are multiple openings on each shift)
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Title/Functional Statement: Licensed Practical Nurse - Community Living Center/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required