Summary The Audiology & Speech Pathology LPN plays a vital role in the Columbus VA Audiology Clinic. The LPN works in a team role with the whole staff, audiologists, speech language pathologists, support staff, MSAs support the hearing healthcare & communication needs of the Veteran, the LPN works under the supervision of audiologists & speech pathologists and has the ability to meet Veterans and their families to evaluate their amplification or assistive listening devices for repair and/or maintenance. Responsibilities The Audiology & Speech Pathology LPN provides patient education and triages hearing aid problems and patient complaints to determine if an additional appointment or further care is needed with an audiologist. The incumbent may also assist or help set-up for modified barium swallow studies for the speech pathologists. The incumbent maintains stock and supplies for the entire audiology clinic and the mobile audiology clinic. The incumbent manages all of the devices going out or coming in from repair and processes new orders using audiology-specific software. The incumbent may provide care at the satellite clinics on the audiology mobile unit. The ability to succeed in this role requires effective communication with Veterans who are experiencing communication disorders. The Licensed Practical Nurse functions under the supervision the Audiology Program Manager. The Licensed Practical Nurse Duties include but are not limited to: Independently provide patient education. Communicate and interact appropriately and courteously with internal and external customers so as to facilitate Service Recovery at the unit level. Maintain confidentiality of written, electronic, and verbal patient/employee information. Work and function within a safe manner including infection control and use of equipment; appropriately reporting and addressing safety hazards to prevent injury to internal and external customers. Assure that patient safety is paramount in all aspects of patient care. Integrate and apply pertinent aspects of the Outpatient Clinic performance improvement program into his/her professional practice. Utilize nursing research and literature in practice. Integrate and apply aspects of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations National Patient Safety Goals as applicable to their area of practice. The Licensed Practical Nurse possesses the ability to provide hearing aid care to Veterans to include the following: Responsible for routine repairs of hearing aids delivered or mailed to the Audiology Clinic. Meeting with veterans on a one-to-one basis to solve hearing aid problems. In this capacity, the incumbent provides primary level trouble shooting and repair for veterans who are experiencing hearing aid problems. Trouble-shooting devices. Services commonly provided by the Technician include the evaluation of hearing aid function and fit through listening checks, electroacoustic evaluation, visual inspection, changing of batteries, cleaning of electrical contacts, removal of impacted cerumen from the aid, replacing earmold tubing, inspecting and replacing mic covers. Counseling the Veteran in optimal use and proper methods of care for the instruments. Earmold impression of a patient's ear following careful examination of the ear for contra-indications by an Audiologist. All interactions are properly documented in the veteran's records and electronic health record system in the form of clinical progress notes and with an audiologist named as a co-signer. When it is necessary for a hearing aid to be returned to the manufacturer for repair, the incumbent prepares all necessary paperwork and records and packages and ships the instrument. The incumbent makes appropriate entries in the clinic's record tracking system in order to ensure that the hearing aid is properly tracked during the repair process. The Licensed Practical Nurse demonstrates the knowledge necessary to administrative management in audiology such as: Roes Entries: The incumbent will be responsible for entering ROES orders for his/her hearing aid repairs, batteries and other supplies as necessary. She/he will track and certify hearing aid orders as they are received, as well as taking necessary steps for correcting errors or changes as they occur. Equipment and Supply Management: The incumbent maintains an adequate supply of materials and other supplies (as requested by Audiology staff) to meet the clinic needs. The technician maintains clinic records in accordance with service line, VA ACC, and VA requirements. The technician ensures that clinic records are current, and that reports/information is filed. SDS management: The technician works with the program support assistant and reviews annually the safety data sheets (SDS) for the audiology clinic including CBOCs. She/he will ensure that inventory and sheets are current. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, Compressed/Flexible Schedule: A compressed schedule may be considered. Telework Eligible: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement Title: Licensed Practical Nurse-Audiology/CBSR-12679309-25-JD. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement,02/07/2025. Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), previously known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), previously known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006. Additional information may also be obtained from the ACEN Website. 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. VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986; and for their future personnel actions under this authority. The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions. Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school. 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met. GS-03: Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04: Experience. Six months of qualifying experience as a LPN or LVN. OR Experience and Education. Graduation from an approved school and one year of experience that involved nursing care work in a hospital outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures. OR Education. Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-3 grade level; however, they are expected to exercise greater judgment, require less supervision, and to operate in accordance with all established policies, procedure, and techniques. GS-05: You may qualify based on your experience or education as described below: Experience. Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-4 LPN/LVN. You will be rated on the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's) based on your application for this position. Please make sure that each is addressed in detail in the body of your resume. For the FULL list of KSA's used for qualifications please refer to: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G13, LICENSED PRACTICAL OR VOCATIONAL NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-06: You may qualify based on your experience or education as described below: Experience. Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN. You will be rated on the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's) based on your application for this position. Please make sure that each is addressed in detail in the body of your resume. For the FULL list of KSA's used for qualifications please refer to: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G13, LICENSED PRACTICAL OR VOCATIONAL NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G13, LICENSED PRACTICAL OR VOCATIONAL NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06. SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade Award 50's d not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. Examples f appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old. Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement. For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/. All Title 38 Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) employees must have served in their Excepted Service position for at least 90 days in order to be eligible for a position within the Competitive Service. Applicants who were previously selected under a Competitive Delegating Examining Unit (DEU) announcement must have served in their position for at least 90 days prior to being eligible for other positions within the Competitive Service. In addition to the qualification above you must also have: Specialized Experience/Education/Combination of Experience and Education. Physical Requirements: The LPN requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting. S/he may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. S/he may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. S/he must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing on hire, as a condition of employment. In the performance of duties, s/he may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Note: Must have Basic Life Support (BLS) certification prior to assuming clinical duties. The BLS requirement is satisfied by successfully completing an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS Healthcare Provider Course or Military Training Network (MTN). BLS courses are normally offered within 1-5 days of entry on duty. No online certifications will be accepted. Receiving 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. Veterans preference does not apply to this job announcement per the OCHCO Bulletin: Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages. 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. As required by VHA DIRECTIVE 1193.01(1) Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required exception from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. "VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being." The Medical Center is a Smoke Free Facility.