Summary

The Long Beach VA Health Care System is seeking full time Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) position in Community Living Center (CLC) for Geriatrics & Extended Care Service.

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
• 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 the grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS-6: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent
• AND 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 and to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
• Ability to observe - identify and respond to the patient's needs for medication - equipment-assisted care and patient/family education
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• 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
• 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
• 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: Recent LVN/LPN experience caring for geriatric or medically complex adult patients in outpatient geriatrics - primary care - long-term care - home-based care - rehabilitation - memory care - or extended care settings
• Experience supporting interdisciplinary care for older adults with chronic illness - dementia - frailty - fall risk - polypharmacy - or functional decline
• Experience with patient intake - rooming - clinical reminders - medication administration - specimen collection - wound care - and other practical nursing duties in an ambulatory clinic setting
• Experience educating patients and caregivers on medications - safety - follow-up care - and use of community or supportive services for older adults
• Experience using an electronic health record to document nursing observations - interventions - and coordination of care activities in a timely and accurate manner
• and Prior VA experience or familiarity with Veteran populations - geriatric care programs - or Geriatrics and Extended Care services is highly desirable
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over)
• Straight Pulling (up to 2 hours)
• Pushing (2 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (up to 8 hours)
• Standing (up to 8 hours)
• Both legs required
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/40 and to 20/100 in the other.

Duties

• Responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to: Performs a full range of nursing procedures such as data collection that contributes to the assessment - vital signs - treatments - and specimen collection in accordance with nursing policies and procedures
• These patients may have a variety of physical and/or behavioral issues
• Handles - prepares - and administers medications - treatments - in accordance with policies and procedures and documents appropriately in the patient's medical record - observes and evaluates for physical and/or behavioral changes from prescribed medications and treatments
• Documents changes in patient's condition and reports these timely to the Registered Nurse and/or provider and initiates appropriate actions
• Performs nursing treatments and procedures - which may include blood pressure monitoring - weight measurement - other treatments and procedures may include insertion - care - and removal of urinary catheters - dressing changes on simple wounds - colostomy care - decubitus ulcer care
• ear irrigations - enemas - following established policies and procedures
• The nurse will complete applicable competency reviews before performing these treatments and procedures
• Obtains electrocardiograms on patients as assigned reporting readings to the Registered Nurse and/or provider according to unit level procedures
• Completes finger stick blood glucose testing on patients as appropriate and completes mandatory competency reviews
• Participates in interdisciplinary planning process by attending team meetings and providing patient related data and information Enters - manipulates - and retrieves information and data from the VistA and other clinical information systems as appropriate to area assigned Assures proper completion and filing of original medical documentation and forms in records prior to forwarding to medical records room - ensures the patient completes all necessary forms prior to being seen by the provider
• Adheres to policies and guidelines regarding release of patient information
• Refers patient to appropriate staff member as required
• As required types routine correspondence - progress reports - medical statements - memorandum - and statistical reports using various automation systems and programs
• Performs other functions such as entering work orders - tracking of equipment - and timekeeping
• All other duties as assigned VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (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
• Functional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized