Licensed Practical Nurse-Community Living Center / Geriatric Extended Care

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.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) applies person centered care whereby the treatment plan and care reflect the specific needs of the patient. The duties of the LPN may include, but are not limited to :

Provision of Care :

a. Ensures the resident's Activities of Daily Living (ADL) are preformed as per the resident's required level of assistance including functional mobility, transfers, personal hygiene, grooming, bathing, toileting, dressing, and feeding.

b. Ensures / verifies meal consumption for each resident by either asking resident about his / her food intake including food brought from off premises, verbal prompting to encourage resident to eat, physically guiding resident or feeding residents that require full physical assistance. Utilizes adaptive feeding equipment. Adheres to dysphagia and aspiration precautions. Ensures / verifies consumption of snacks and supplements.

c. Performs feeding and medication administration per oral and enteral tubes. Assures patency and location of tube, and proper body alignment to avoid aspiration.

d. Performs hydration rounds including residents with enteral tubes to avoid dehydration and other medical complications.

e. Performs, assists or cues for appropriate dental mouth hygiene and understands the correlation between mouth care and pneumonia. Utilizes "Mouth Care without Battle" techniques as established.

f. Performs, assists or cues in resident bath including hair and complete body. Bed bath with wipes is performed in between showers. Perianal care is provided as needed to ensure resident is clean and dry. Utilizes "Bathing without a Battle" (BWB) techniques, as needed.

g. Sets up and administers oxygen therapy. Positions resident to promote breathing and to maintain airway. Performs oral and nasopharyngeal suctioning. Performs tracheostomy care and documents accordingly. Performs pummeling and assists residents with incentive spirometry.

Medication Administration :

a. Administers medications safely ensuring the 6 rights : right medication, right resident, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation.

b. Observes physical and / or emotional changes in resident's condition from prescribed medications / treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reports deviations from normal to Charge RN, including recognizing allergy, side effects, relevant lab values, and clinical response.

Reporting and Documentation :

a. Reports, documents in the medical record resident findings and care provided.

b. Charts observations relative to any changes in the resident's physical or mental / emotional status, observable behavior, or possession of contraband articles.

Dependability :

a. Serves as preceptor in orienting, educating, and raining less experienced staff related to support duties for more complex tests / procedures.

Safe Resident Care :

a. Follows safety and infection prevention policies and procedures in the delivery of resident care.

b. Utilizes principles of body mechanics in alignment, turning, ambulation, transferring and repositioning residents with the use of proper equipment.

Work Schedule : Rotating tours including weekends, and holidays, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) : Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized : Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Ronda.Eady@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions / assistance. Learn more

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 # : 586-00189-F, 586-00190-F, 586-00191-F, 586-00680-F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized