Licensed Practical Nurse- Primary Care

Summary

At the Omaha VA, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in Ambulatory Care provide technically proficient, patient-centered care that supports Veterans throughout the outpatient care experience. Working with Registered Nurses (RNs), providers, and the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), you will promote safety, strengthen preventive care, reinforce education, and help ensure Veterans receive coordinated, efficient, and respectful care

Duties

Make a meaningful impact on Veterans through hands-on outpatient nursing focused on preparation, prevention, education, and continuity of care. You will support Veterans before, during, and after appointments while collaborating with the Registered Nurse (RN), providers, and Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) to maintain safe clinical operations, efficient clinic flow, and a positive patient experience. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides technically proficient, patient-centered nursing care under the supervision and direction of a RN or provider. Conducts pre-visit outreach, reviews health records, obtains missing documentation, reinforces instructions, and prepares clinical information to support high-quality patient appointments. Performs health screenings, collects vital signs and clinical data, completes assigned clinical reminders, and accurately recognizes, reports, and documents relevant patient information. Manages clinic flow by rooming patients, assisting providers with procedures, completing room turnover, and maintaining clean, stocked examination rooms. Administers medications, treatments, and immunizations in accordance with established policies while monitoring and reporting patient responses. Recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations, seeks assistance from the RN or provider, and initiates emergency interventions as directed. Supports complex diagnostic tests and specialized procedures by preparing patients, assisting examinations, handling specialized equipment, and monitoring patients before, during, and after procedures. Coordinates care through chart reviews, panel management, consult tracking, secure message management, schedule reviews, follow-up activities, and participation in meetings and daily huddles. Provides patient and family education, health coaching, and support for shared decision-making while promoting Whole Health principles and continuity of care. Serves as a preceptor by orienting, educating, and training less experienced LPNs and NAs. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday- Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). 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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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 Physical requirements: This position requires some degree of fitness, strength, and agility. Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, pulling, lifting arm overhead, and similar activities. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Nebraska-Western Iowa is part of the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23). The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

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) and 7407(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. (See Education section of this announcement for exceptions) 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). 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 - Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; OR 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 Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. GS-05 - 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 var