The incumbent performs a variety of supportive, nursing and medical tasks necessary to the care of patients during diagnostic and therapeutic visits to any ECHCS VA Primary Care Clinic location. The Licensed Practical Nurse's (LPN) practice is modeled on the standards established within the VHA model for Patient Aligned Care Teams.
***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until November 7th, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be August 22nd, 2025, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until position is filled.*** 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. 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. BLS: BLS certification is required. Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State-accrediting agency and/or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) http://www.nlnac.org (copy of transcripts required) OR 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. English Language Proficiency: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in [both] spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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, candidates must meet requirements for each grade level applied for as outlined below: The GS-7 grade level is for select, complex LPN/LVN 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 level or equivalent, fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN. (b) Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in selected, more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings. Knowledge base promotes the incorporation of current patient care data in actively contributing to the development of the patient's overall health plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions. Positions at this grade level require broader knowledge and skills because supervision is more general and employees are expected to be involved to a greater degree in the development and modification of treatment plans. (c) Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery. Makes astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes, both physical and emotional, in patient's condition, and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patient's response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient's care plan. Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention. At this grade level, the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing, and, as appropriate, modifying patient care treatment. They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations. (d) Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and patient's response to medications/treatments received. (This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions, promptly inform the RN or MD/DO of observed changes in patient's condition and initiate appropriate, prescribed interventions. Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels. (e) Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO for appropriate team intervention and effectively intervene, as directed, to assure the continuation of optimal, safe and therapeutic patient care delivery. At this grade level, the LPN/LVN must have a broader knowledge of the patient treatment process and exercise judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate. (f) Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes. Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with patients and/or family members who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control, resistant or abusive behaviors, or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions. This includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervision. (g) Exhibits skill, creativity and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces, research projects or in developing educational materials/media. Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice. (h) Possesses comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices to serve as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care. Serves as a role model and mentor to other nursing staff in the application of more complex technology, effectively guiding and directing their continuing practice in these areas. (i) Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or nonmedical staff in patient care delivery. Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO. In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level, the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff. Please see "Additional Information"
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Start, continue, or finish your career here | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (youtube.com) LPNs at the GS-7 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-6 grade level; however, they are expected to exercise greater judgment, require less supervision, & to operate in accordance with all established policies, procedure, & techniques. Assist Nurse Manager (NM) with daily clinic flow, schedule management oversight, EOC compliance, EARR compliance, equipment management, EIL, process improvement activities, VISTA key & menu review, & other clinic operation duties. May be required to travel for orientation/educational offerings. Applies concentrated effort & direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing assignments, including primary care with collaboration with other disciplines & specialties outside of PACT including non-VA care, specialties, surgical services, prosthetics, nutrition, hospice, & palliative care. The staff mix is such that the employee at this grade is expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty & responsibility under general supervision. Consistently demonstrate the execution of independent technical judgment, without the need for readily available supervision, as well as comprehensive & thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices & procedures within the scope of practice. Technically proficient in initiating, performing, & completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations including specific protocols for independently ordering labs, consults, & other orders. Functions as a team leader for other practical nurses & non-licensed staff. Exhibits skill, creativity, & initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery & patient &/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces, research projects or in developing educational materials/media. Actively promotes & effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice. Collaborates with NM to manage daily flow of PACTs, assure daily staff schedule is updated, & appointment management for PACTs is completed daily. Supports the RN or MD/DO/NP/PA in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery. Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO/NP/PA. Assists Clinic/NM with Schedule Management Oversight Responsibilities: Collaborates with Clinic/NM to develop processes to ensure provider clinic profiles are coordinated for each provider & reviewed before scheduling; ensuring profiles have adequate appointments for scheduling. Collaborates with Clinic/NM to manage clinic cancellations, alerting schedulers of clinic cancellations immediately & reviewing appointments with providers to ensure patient safety & notification as soon as possible. Collaborates with & works in tandem with Clinic/NM to assess need for quality improvement efforts to: Review access improvement initiatives & scheduling operations to make timely adjustments meeting clinic business objectives. Provide regular feedback on clinic operations when appropriate. Be proficient & demonstrate competency to either set up or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment as applicable for all equipment for which you have been trained. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm 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 #: 54605-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized