Practical Nurse

SummaryThe Licensed Practical Nurse works under the direction of an RN and reports to the Clinical Manager/Clinic Coordinator. The LPN is responsible for observing, recording and reporting changes in the patient's condition, as well as assisting in the development and revision of the patient-driven holistic care plan.ResponsibilitiesRecruitment Incentive may be given to highly qualified candidates. Duties may include: Performs, reports, and records assigned nursing care done in the Primary Care setting, including, but not limited to: Respiratory testing and oxygen therapy; medication administration; clinical reminders with appropriate consults and alerts as indicated; check expiration dates of meds and supplies prior to use; delegated procedures and treatments; documentation; suture/staple removal; pain assessment, documentation in CPRS and communicate with medical provider; diabetic foot checks; patient vitals testing; inhaler teaching; entering outside the VA immunizations into CPRS; ordering of prosthetic equipment, per protocol and educating patients; medication reconciliation of patient's medications during provider visit and/or along with community home care plan of cares. Makes observations and thoroughly documents care and the patient's response. Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or medical provider of changes in the patient's condition requiring higher level intervention. Adheres to standards of practice and safe technique in preparation and administration of medication. Demonstrates understanding of age and population specific characteristics that affect the health care needs of the Veteran. Promptly recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations, seeks assistance and effectively intervenes as directed when appropriate. Based on the patient's goals, provides patient and family health education, to include self­-management, prevention, and wellness. Interacts and communicates appropriately with patients and family members. Demonstrates professional behavior (i.e., respect, civility, ability to accept constructive criticism), effective communication, and interpersonal skills. Adheres to principles of infection control, safety, and universal precautions. Demonstrates competence utilizing special equipment needed to perform job duties. Follows policy and procedures related to fire and disaster drills and safety and security measures. Demonstrates initiative in assisting the Teamlet and larger Teams. Assists in the orientation and competency validation of peers and clerical staff Maintains confidentiality of electronic, written, and/or verbal patient information. Maintains a work environment that honors diversity. Serves as a resources and advocate in the protection of patient and family rights. Completes mandatory reviews, including motivational interviewing, in order to promote patient self-management toward individualized life plan of care. Supports patient-driven care in a safe, efficient and cost effective manner, using evidence-based principles. Promotes patient and personnel safety. Varies the order of nursing care delivered to patients in response to significant physical or emotional changes in the patient's condition. Uses judgment in selecting the most appropriate application of procedures and guidelines. Demonstrates competence in placing orders per policy and protocols. Assists with minor procedures, including obtaining and arranging necessary equipment, positioning patient, ensuring comfort and privacy. Monitors patient during the procedure. Demonstrates adherence to sterile and non-sterile specimen collection. Demonstrates adherence to and competence with Nursing Standard Operating Procedures, Memoranda, and National Directives. Implements provider orders within the LPN scope of practice following policy and procedure. Executes, practices, and implements all aspects of the Patient Aligned Care Team Model. Community Based Outpatient Clinic Duties may also include: Handles, prepares, administers and records vaccines Educates patients on the colonoscopy procedure and/or Fit test. 24 Holter Monitor Performs dressing changes and related patient education. Performs Bladder Scans and documents results. Correctly collects, labels, prepares, and delivers specimens to lab. Obtains Safety Plans on patients, based on depression and/or PTSD screening responses. Educate patients on resources available, when ancillary staff unavailable. Documents patient's home blood pressure and/or blood sugar readings. Assists with patient education when ancillary services are not available (e.g., pharmacy, respiratory therapy, nutrition/dietary). Performs respiratory walking desaturation testing. Performs EKGs and transmits to Iowa City for interpretation. Performs Ear irrigation. Demonstrates knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potentially urgent or emergent care situations. Administers employee influenza vaccines and documents in CPRS. Demonstrate the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision), as well as a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pmFinancial Disclosure Report: Not requiredRequirementsConditions of EmploymentQualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/14/2020. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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. Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006. Additional information may also be obtained from the NLNAC Website. Note: must submit transcript with application. 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. An LPN/LVN who has or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part. Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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). Grade Requirements: GS-03: None beyond the basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved. GS-04: (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; OR (b) 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 (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. GS-05: (a) Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. (b) Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Works with the RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery. Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and /or prescribed treatment regimes. (c) Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professional and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice. (d) Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures. Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to RN or MD/DO. (e) Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated, promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO, and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest. (f) Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action. (g) Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO. Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures. However,completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review. GS-06: (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. References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13. 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.EducationIMPORTANT: 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 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. 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. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. 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. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.