Vocational Nurse

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/11/2024 to 06/25/2024

• Salary

$77,418 - $100,647 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 6

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Santa Rosa, CA 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

6

• Job family (Series)

0620 Practical Nurse

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBSW-12439585-24-LLT

• Control number

795100600

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This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

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Duties

The Santa Rosa Outpatient VA Clinic offers primary care and specialty health services, including audiology, physical therapy, dentistry, mental health services, prosthetics, and more. The North Santa Rosa Outpatient Clinic offers specialty health services, including audiology and speech, occupational therapy mobility, cardiology, general surgery, neurology, optometry, and more. The candidate must be able to float between North and South Clinics and in addition float to PACT when needed.

Duties include but not limited to:

• Provides/assists patients in keeping with Department of Nursing standards, to accomplish a full range of personal care with attention to preserving personal dignity, autonomy, religious preferences, cultural values, and age appropriate needs.

• Contributes to/modifies the patient care plan, taking into consideration physical, emotional and social factors.

• Organizes/prioritizes routine and non-routine nursing care activities.

• Administers medications according to the "5 Rights."

• Applies and reads skin tests.

• Observes, recognizes, and reports significant or adverse changes in patients' condition in a timely fashion.

• Responds appropriately to emergency situations.

• Demonstrates skills in intervening and follows the protocol for managing potentially violent and/or suicidal patients.

• Independently assumes additional patient care responsibilities, including consistent special efforts and quality in wound care, pulmonary care, skin care, ROM, and other measures to prevent complications.

• Performs a wide range of wound care including irrigations and dressing changes.

• Performs actions targeted to the maintenance/restoration of skin integrity.

• Correctly prepares oxygen dependent patients for transport.

• Provides emotional patient and family care.

• Monitors neurological signs and symptoms for changes in mentation.

• Complies with all universal precaution and infection control policies and procedures.

• Assist/complete clerical and transport functions as assigned.

• Demonstrates knowledge of and correct usage of medical and psychiatric terminology/diagnoses.

• Maintains a safe/clean work environment and completes assigned environmental duties.

• Demonstrates appropriate actions in environmental emergency situations.

• Employs appropriate lifting/moving, transfer, and assistive devices while consistently demonstrating proper and safe body mechanics.

• Reports unsafe equipment and working conditions to appropriate individuals and intervenes appropriately.

• Participates in QI activities and offers suggestion to improve care.

• Makes rounds consistent with unit policy ensuring visual contact, safety and comfort of all patients.

• Delivers care to patients/clients in a respectful, non-judgmental manner.

• Promptly communicates changes in patient condition/response to nursing care.

• Demonstrates and maintains competency as defined by unit and department criteria.

• Instructs staff and students in procedures pertaining to nursing care, unit routine, and use of equipment.

• Adheres to VA Nursing Service, Medical Center policies, procedures, and standards.

• Maintains client/patient privacy.

• Maintains IRM security at all times.

Work Schedule: 0:800-16:30; Monday to Friday

Telework: Ad-hoc

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact EDRP: V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not required

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.

• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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 each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.GS-06

• Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN.

• 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 response to a patient's needs for care including 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. 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.

• 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.

• 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:

• 1-2 years of recent LVN/LPN experience

Salary for this position ranges dependent upon applicant qualificationsGS-06: $77,418-$100,647 annually

The full performance level of this vacancy is 6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for is the 6.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-13 Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position include lifting, prolonged standing, frequent bending and stooping, walking, reaching, and repetitive motion. The mental/sensory requirements include recall, reasoning, problem-solving, hearing, and speaking clearly, writing, keyboarding, reading, and logical thinking. The environment's pace can vary from steady to a sometimes fast pace requiring handling of multiple priorities, frequent, sometimes intense customer interactions, and the ability to adapt to frequent changes in a sometimes noisy environment. There may be the need to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to disease, illness and hazardous materials.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.