Practical Nurse (Ambulatory Care) in Cornholme

The Hampton VAHCS is a 1-C teaching facility serving Eastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina. The main campus is in Hampton, VA with 4 CBOCs in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, VA, and Elizabeth City, NC. There is one new Health Care Center in Chesapeake, VA. Hampton VAMC provides comprehensive health care which includes Primary Care, Acute Inpatient, Acute Psychiatric, Chronic Spinal Cord Injury, a 169-bed Domiciliary, and a long-term CLC/Hospice Care Unit.

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.
• Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing that was approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing (Accrediting Commission - NLNAC) at the time of completion.
• Licensure: Holds a current, full, active and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical nurse or vocational nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.
• English Language Proficiency: Per VA Handbook 5005 – Part II – Chapter 3 – Section A – Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. – Chapter 73 or 74 to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.

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: At least six months of qualifying experience as an LPN/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-05: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-04 level or equivalent. Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
• GS-06: At least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-05 level or equivalent – two years total qualifying experience – that has provided the following: Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.

Preferred Experience

3-5 years Nursing experience, 2-3 years Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) / Primary Care experience, Emergency Room / Outpatient Nursing experience.

Physical Requirements

The position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The position requires long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. He/she may be exposed to infected Veterans and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing/equipment in isolation situations or during day-to-day clinic functions and procedures. The LPN must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations – able to shift priorities based on Veteran needs.

Duties

Duties include – but are not limited to:

• Assists during emergent situations, initiates and/or assists with CPR, choking, fire emergencies – etc.; obtains equipment and supplies as requested by the RN or physician.
• Administers medication accurately and promptly under the general supervision of an RN.
• Demonstrates understanding of the effects and/or reactions caused by medications, treatments, and procedures.
• Records and reports these observations to RN.
• Performs personal care, diagnostic support duties, and treatments according to procedure under the direction of the RN in a timely manner.
• Responds to patient’s nursing needs – including physical comfort – and emotional needs and recognizing problems from the normal.
• Strives to involve patients and family to participate in the provision of care throughout the continuum.
• Completes assignments in a timely manner with constructive utilization of remaining time.
• Initiates, administers, assesses, monitors, and reports IV sites – starts intravenous fluids and piggyback solutions prepared by Pharmacy.
• Documents care provided as such.

Work Schedule: Full Time – 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off 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.

Functional Statement #: 000000.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.