Summary

The Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) assigned to the George E. Whalen Primary Care Clinics functions as a team member under the supervision of the Clinic Nurse Manager. The LPN/LVN 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. The LPN/LVN is a member of the larger team and collaborates with disciplines across the spectrum..

Qualifications

Applicants 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:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• (Noncitizens 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
• 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
• Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• See paragraph 4 - section C
• 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 VA policy 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)
• In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• Grade Determinations: GS-3. None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4. Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria below: (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-5 Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• AND Meet the following knowledge - skills - and abilities: 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
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and 4 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
• 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
• 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
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• 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-6 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
• AND Meet the following knowledge - skills - and abilities: Technically proficient in initiating - performing - and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions - using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments - and accurately recognizing - reporting - and recording relevant patient information
• Ability to observe - identify - and response to a patient's needs for care including medication - equipment-assisted care - and patient/family education - the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional - socio-economic - and age-related factors
• 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
• 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
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations - and the ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family members and other staff
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - and to promote positive relationships - communication and socialization skills
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures - which includes preparing the patient and 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
• 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: 1 year in hospital or in clinic LPN experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 and local LPN/LVN physical standards.

Duties

• Manages patient care problems and deviations using self-direction in accordance with VA Nursing Practice and LPN licensure standards
• Maintains knowledge and skill to care for a wide range of patients - including those with chronic and acute illness
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of disease conditions - nursing principles - and standards/practices to coordinate nursing care required in the clinic setting and alter the sequence and/or care delivered to meet individual patient's needs
• Measures - records - and reports vital signs - neurological signs - weight - and blood glucose levels
• Appropriately triages and prioritizes patient needs as routine - urgent - or emergent in the clinic setting and modifies patient care/treatment as needed
• Checks patients into the clinic - interviews patient and/or significant other - and documents intake data as per policy
• Possesses comprehensive knowledge of VA protocols and VHA directives related to clinic management - documentation - and computer technology
• Demonstrates knowledge - skill - and ability to promptly recognize and effectively intervene in potentially urgent or emergent situations
• Demonstrates the ability to independently adjust or modify care being delivered to meet the changing needs of the patient with notification to the RN or provider for concurrence
• Responsibilities include prompt recognition and treatment of urgent/emergent patient care needs - including hypo/hyperglycemia - acute shortness of breath - acute chest pain - seizures - stroke symptoms - mental health issues - etc
• Maintains and implements knowledge of anatomy and physiology as well as scientific principles underlying nursing care and procedures
• Provides high quality nursing care using traditional and non-traditional modalities - including triage prior to provider face-to face visits - nurse health maintenance visits - telephone triage - secure messaging - etc.
• Serves as a resource for complex/specialized procedures (i.e
• non-complex suture/staple removal - non-complex wound care - blood draws - and clinic specific procedures - such as ear irrigation)
• Performs venipuncture for blood draws - prepares specimens for transport and processing (centrifuge and serum separation) - transcribes orders - accessions labels - and provides patient education about lab tests
• Demonstrates knowledge of standard precautions - medical asepsis - and sterile technique with the ability to correctly apply these principles and techniques and assist others with implementation in the clinic setting
• Assists with diagnostic procedures that include preparing the patient - setting up sterile field and instrumentation - and monitoring the patient's condition
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skill to interpret common test results and other medical data
• Provides education to patients/families about preparation for procedures and/or diagnostic tests
• Takes an active role in health promotion and disease prevention to improve patient outcomes
• Provides one-on-one or group teaching as appropriate
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill to incorporate patient education into care and modifies as necessary to meet needs of the patient using TEACH for Success and other health coaching strategies
• Work Schedule: M-F 7:30am-4pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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 #: 52470-A
• 52471-A
• 52472-A
• 52473-A
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized