Licensed Practical Nurse

Summary

PLEASE READ THE COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET. The Miami VA Healthcare System's Geriatrics & Extended Care (GEC) Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic LPN. Ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards, as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program.

Duties

The LPN serves as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team with an assigned patient load. The incumbent engages in nursing care, which requires the knowledge and skills represented by licensed as an LPN. The LPN maintains acceptable standards of practice under the direction of the nurse manager or designee, and has the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties. These duties include assignments in selected, more complex, inpatient and/or outpatient care settings. Other duties include but are not limited to: Promptly recognizing potentially urgent or emergent patient care situations, seeking assistance of the Registered Nurse (RN) and/or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)/Physician for appropriate team intervention, and effectively intervenes. Patient population consists of mostly elderly, chronically ill patients requiring astute observation of subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and requires appropriate actions based on these observations. Performing procedures such as application of external urinary catheters; routine Foley catheter care; irrigation of Foley catheters, including the set-up and replacing of solutions for continuous Foley catheter irrigations; irrigation of nasogastric tubes and established colostomies; inserting and discontinuing Foley catheters; giving regular and medicated enemas; changing complicated extensive sterile dressings; performing finger sticks Carrying out respiratory treatments such as postural drainage, chest physiotherapy; sets up and initiates oxygen therapy, including nebulization treatments; performs oropharngeal, nasopharyngeal and tracheal suctioning, performs routine tracheostomy care, instructs patient in use of incentive spirometer; monitors and records observations of chest tubes and pleurovacs; assembles water-sealed chest drainage systems Observing for physical and/or emotional changes in patients' condition from prescribed medications/treatments Monitoring and regulating the flow of intravenous fluids manually or via infusion pumps and reporting observations to the registered nurse; observing IV site for infiltration and inflammation and reporting to the Registered Nurse; changes peripheral IV and saline lock dressings; changing IV solution administration sets following established protocols; discontinues peripheral intravenous catheters when authorized by the Registered Nurse; monitoring and adding maintenance IV fluids (as approved) via mini-bags, prepared by pharmacy, through an existing peripheral line/saline lock Preparing and administering prescribed medications (oral and intramuscular), including PRN medications orders, after carefully assessing the patient's condition; observing effectiveness and documenting observations in the clinical record. Administers vaccines, administers, reads and records PPD's Assisting selected patients with rehabilitation such as range of motion, ambulation, positioning, and self-help activities of daily living; assisting with bowel and bladder training programs. Assists and instructs patients on how to keep lungs clear. Entering information about the patient's condition, an assessment of the patient's condition and a plan of action to carry out nursing care Measuring and recording vital signs, neurochecks, intake and output, weights; collecting urine, stool, sputum and drainage specimens; measuring and recording PH from nasogastric tubes; measuring and recording urine specific gravity VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Work Schedule: Shift; 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; 3:30 p.m. - midnight; 11:30 p.m. - 8:00 a.m.- Rotating Shifts (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs). Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 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) Parental Leave: 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. Child Care Subsidy: 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. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. 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: All applicants must meet the following basic qualifications. United States Citizenship: Must be a US Citizen 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. Exceptions: Health care education or training in the military service VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986 Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school Licensure. 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. English Language Proficiency. Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English. GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements, the following qualification criteria must be met for the GS-7 grade level. The GS-7 grade level is for select, complex LPN positions, as established by each health care facility. To be advanced, employees must meet all of the following standards, provided the standard is part of their assignment. (a) Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 grade level or equivalent, fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN. Examples of experience include, but is not limited to work in which you: initiate, perform, and complete assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations; 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; observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care, incl