Summary

The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) GS-6 functions as a member of the health care team by demonstrating an exceptional degree of practical nursing knowledge and skills necessary for self-direction in carrying out complex practical nursing care assignments within the CBOCs and Specialty Clinics for a Veteran population with a variety of health care needs

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
• 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
• 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 98-60 - 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
• See paragraph 4 - section C
• 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 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) physician (MD/DO)] for appropriateness and conformity with establish 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
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 6
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a 6
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - pushing - lifting - and transferring during administration of patient care
• In addition - the incumbent must be emotionally stable and adjust to different types of personalities - demonstrating compassion - courtesy - and concern
• Must be able to utilize good body mechanics and have stamina to withstand stress
• 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)
• The incumbent must be able to perform all activities for the position without restriction
• This will include work on expanded tours of duty - weekends - and the ability to push supply - medication - and telehealth carts
• The LPN 6 must be able to utilize written and verbal communication skills proficiently when communicating with the supervisor and other staff members.

Duties

• VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 FUNCTIONS: The incumbent collaborates with a PACT team to provide complex/specialized patient-centered care to a panel of approximately 1200 patients taking into consideration patients' ages - cultural backgrounds - education level - and any other special needs
• The panel population is multi-faceted - including geriatric patients - patients from all war-time eras - female patients - and patients with complex psychiatric needs
• Assignments associated with this position include - but are not limited to: 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
• Assesses - 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
• Performs telehealth services - store and forward - clinical video teleconference - video connect - tele performance such as tele-retinal screening - tele-dermatology - tele-wound care and other telehealth services as identified - and referred providers
• Serves as a Tele-presenter coordinates Telehealth services and is part of the clinic team
• Performs phlebotomy procedures following a sequence of steps approved for sample collection
• Follows the Laboratory procedures for collecting specimens in the appropriate container - maintains specimen under appropriate conditions - follows guidelines for collecting timed specimens at the appropriate times to insure specimen viability
• Demonstrates knowledge - skill - and ability to promptly recognize and effectively intervene in potentially urgent or emergent situations
• Maintains and implements knowledge of anatomy and physiology as well as scientific principles underlying nursing care and procedures
• Serves as a resource for complex/specialized procedures (i.e
• non-complex suture removal - non-complex wound care - blood draws - and clinic specific procedures - such as ear irrigation)
• 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
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skill to interpret common test results and other medical data
• Takes an active role in health promotion and disease prevention to improve patient outcomes
• Teaches patients and families principles of health - self-care - and treatments related to wellness and health promotion
• Communicates calmly - courteously - and professionally with all patients - personnel - and visitors while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations and Medical Center policies
• Collaborates with the PACT team and other interdisciplinary services in the development - implementation - and evaluation of patient care
• Serves in a leadership role within the PACT team to promote holistic care and optimize clinic efficiency
• Active participant in quality improvement projects/hospital committees to promote evidence-based practice and performance improvement in the clinic setting
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills
• Assists in coordination of care during and after the transition of a patient from inpatient to outpatient and vice versa
• Performs Clinical Pertinence reviews to ensure compliance with nursing practice standards related to nursing clinical reminders
• Uses self-direction is assessment of scheduled and walk-in patients and identifies potential clinical problems or deviations from normal
• Enters orders in a timely and accurate manner within Expanded Scope of Practice and VA policy
• Initiate consults per PACT/Expanded Scope of Practice - such as Home Tele-Health - audiology - optometry/ophthalmology - prosthetics - patient education - Home Based Primary Care - etc
• Collaborates with PACT team to identify and proactively manage high-risk patients through frequent telephone contacts and/or face-to-face visits using the nurse health maintenance clinic
• Collaborates with PACT RN to ensure that patients who left the Medical Center without being seen or against medical advice are contacted in a timely manner to address potential care needs
• Collaborates with PACT-assigned CCHT personnel to address patient care needs in a timely manner and to transition care from CCHT back to the PACT team
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Ad-Hoc Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54095F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized