Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT for Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) vacancies in the Community Living Center (CLC) at the Erie VA Medical Center and will remain open until 09/30/25. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 03/14/25 - with subsequent cut-off dates weekly. The LPN demonstrates unit/department specific competencies - and competency in caring for adult and geriatric patients/residents/residents.

Duties

• Major Duties Include but not limited to: Explains procedures to residents - using language which they understand and displays consideration of individual age related and gender specific resident needs
• Ensures that the physical and emotional environment is consistent with the vision for resident-centered care
• Maintains self-control and responds consistently to the requirements of the work situation - shows flexibility
• Responds to residents calls for assistance promptly and interacts with the resident in a tactful - courteous manner - making customer service the focus of all interactions
• Communicates respectfully and works effectively with administrative staff - the health care team - unit staff - residents - and visitors
• Provides emotional support to residents - and families/significant others to assist them in adjusting to changes brought about by illness or change in health status
• Establishes constructive relationship with individual residents to elicit feelings and attitudes and to promote positive relationships - communication and socialization skills
• Fosters an environment of respect for individual resident and family/significant other rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery
• Serves as Veteran's/family/significant others' advocate
• Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with residents - family members/significant others and/or internal/external customers
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and self-direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing assignments - including assignments for long-term - short-term rehabilitation - respite - hospice/palliative care - and psychiatric residents requiring skilled nursing care
• Correctly documents medications given or omitted in Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) according to established policy and procedures
• Documents effects of medications
• As an interdisciplinary team member - provides input into the care planning process - assists and provides teaching in activities of daily living (ADLs) to residents and encourages them to participate in ADLs leading to increase independence
• Provides or reinforces resident/family/significant other teaching related to medications - disease process - procedures - and self-care activities
• Considers physical - emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic and age-related factors
• Participates in more complex teaching for resident self-care - such as diabetic care - self-catheterization - etc
• in anticipation of discharge
• Participates in a restorative program based on the needs of resident
• Performs a wide range of treatments and procedures utilizing established nursing care plans and auxiliary equipment according to policy - including but not limited to: application of heat and cold - wound care - changing complex sterile and clean dressings - administering suppositories - cleansing and retention enemas - tube feedings - weights - vital signs - glucose finger sticks - specimen collection - intake and output - colostomy irrigation - oxygen - orthopedic traction - spirometry - nebulizer treatments - and standard 12 lead EKGs - and care of well-established tracheostomies and laryngectomies
• Performs oropharyngeal - tracheostomy - and tracheal suctioning - and tracheostomy and laryngectomy care
• Adheres to and appropriately utilizes the Safe Patient Handling Program standards - practices - and recommendations
• Lifts - transfers - and repositions residents safely - according to policy and procedure - seeking assistance when appropriate - to prevent injury to the resident and self
• Prepares residents for tests - examinations - treatments - and surgery
• Assists Licensed Independent Practitioner with a variety of diagnostic procedures by setting up trays - supplies - and equipment - using sterile technique
• These procedures include - but not limited to: insertion of chest tubes - thoracentesis - paracentesis - lumbar puncture - and liver biopsies
• Serves as a preceptor in orienting - educating - and training less experienced LPNs or NAs related to support duties for these more complex - specialized tests/procedures
• Consistently follows environmental policies and procedures related to the Erie VAMC GEMS Program - recycling - and the safe use - handling and disposal of chemical products
• Follows policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all applicable environmental regulations and requirements and be good stewards of the environment through pollution prevention - waste minimization and resource conservation
• Work Schedule: Nightshift
• 7:30pm- 8:00am Compressed/Flexible: Possibility of compressed will be considered
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required