Practical Nurse - Mental Health - RRTP

Company: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Location: Montrose
Posted on: May 23, 2025

Job Description:

SummaryThe LPN will be an integral staff member assigned to the 24/7 staffing in the MH RRTP units [three Units: PTSD, Substance Abuse and Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV)]. The MH RRTP's treat Veterans for specific Mental Health and Psychosocial issues within a residential environment. The LPN on the 24/7 team is tasked with caring for some of the unique medical issues the Veteran presents with and administering medications as needed.HelpDutiesThe Licensed Practical Nurse - Mental Health - RRTP will work with non-LPN staff during a 24/7 tour of duty and will share responsibilities for maintaining the safety, structure and administrative requirements of the program. The LPN will work Weekends, Holidays, Evening and Night (WHEN) tours to meet the needs of the hospital and Veterans. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with veterans to enable them to identify, work on, and resolve a myriad of complex psychosocial problems. Helps veterans to utilize the strengths of their own cultures in their recovery process.
• Provides age-specific care to veterans with substance abuse and/or psychiatric conditions who reside in the three residential treatment programs: Substance Abuse, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Homeless Domiciliary.
• Serves as a primary contact for an assigned caseload of residents in Substance Abuse and the Domiciliary, to include, but are not limited to, individual and group supportive counseling, education, assessment and evaluation. Provides information regarding program requirements and resources and assistance in securing needed services, and follow up to ascertain resident participation in treatment activities. Assists residents to identify and progress toward rehabilitation goals, including transition to independent community living. Fosters residents personal growth by helping them to accept responsibility for their behavior, gain insight into their problems, and develop improved problem solving and coping skills.
• Manages most aspects of admission and discharge procedures, including room selection, clothing inventory and search procedures, admission urine drug screen collection, administrative requirements, orientation, mandatory appointments, completion of resident contracts, provision of bed linens, Orientation Group.
• Assists the veteran to acclimate to the residential program and setting, utilizing observational and interview skills to assess the veteran's adjustment. Assesses the veteran's ability to perform the activities of daily living, manage individual health care needs, and interact appropriately with others.
• Manages all aspects of daily operations, including resident behavior, building rounds and room inspections with particular emphasis on safety and security, administrative and clinical reporting, attending to the emergent and non-emergent needs and requests of the residents.
• Makes independent decisions as the rep. of the Program Manager, and handles emergencies, including fire, utility failures, serious illness, injury, death and verbal and/or physical altercations among residents.
• Handles all documentation requirements, including but not limited to resident electronic records (CPRS) (progress notes), patient appts & resident contracts, daily count sheet, lab slips, meal slips, incident reports, resident mail, daily log as prescribed by each unit, unit policies and procedures, work orders, refrigerator temperature logs, gig lists, passes, urine drug screening log.
• Monitors activities of residents, individually and collectively, for adherence to program requirements; observes for changes in behavior, emotional states and physical condition and intervenes accordingly; utilizes video surveillance system to assure a safe environment; conducts urine drug screen specimen collections and Breathalyzer testing on a scheduled and random basis and in a prescribed manner that insures chain of custody.
• Monitors vital signs as ordered, and documents in the EMR. Documents residents' vital signs including pain and refers to the Nurse or medical provider. Monitors residents on bed rest. Refers ill veterans to the Nurse, Medical Provider, Psychiatrist or OD. Provides CPR when needed. Calls a medical or psychiatric code when needed.
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, providing input into the screening interviews, treatment team meetings, and treatment plans; monitoring adherence to the structured plan and providing timely feedback.
• Reviews and provides first level approval of residents' requests for passes, extensions, and other privileges.
• Supervises Incentive Therapy and/or Compensated Work Therapy workers assigned to the Domiciliary.
• Conducts room and building inspections daily to assure adherence to health and safety standards. Monitors resident details, providing instruction/training as needed; supervises the Expediters; oversees the GI Party; orders linen.
• When required, accompanies veterans on recreational outings or supervised shopping trips.Work Schedule: Varies - Will discuss in the interview.HelpRequirementsConditions 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • 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).QualificationsApplicants 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 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.
    • 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.
    • 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:GS-6. (a) 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.(b) Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.(c) Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; and to accurately recognize, report and record relevant] patient information. Completed work [should need] only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures.(d) Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care and patient/family education. In organizing and delivering care , the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors.(e) Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.(f) Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.(g) Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations, and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members, and other staff.(h) Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members, and/or other internal/external customers.(i) Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which include preparing the patient, 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. Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex, specialized tests/procedures.(j) 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: Experience in mental health care setting preferred.Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position include lifting, prolonged standing and sitting, frequent bending, walking (distance), climbing, reaching (overhead, extensive/repetitive), pulling, pushing, repetitive motion and stooping. The mental/sensory requirements include recall, reasoning, problem solving, hearing, speaking clearly, writing legibly, keyboarding, reading and logical thinking, depth perception, hearing(aide permitted); near/far vision correctable to meet Driver's License requirements.EducationNote: 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 informationReceiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.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.Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.Read more
      • Help 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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility 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.

Keywords: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Bethlehem , Practical Nurse - Mental Health - RRTP, Healthcare , Montrose, Pennsylvania