Summary

The Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN) is a position that is essential for the care delivery of patients at the Washington DC VAMC. This position will be located at the Washington DC VAMC. The Patient Aligned Care Team Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) assumes the role in direct and indirect care providing complex/specialized patient-centered care to a panel of patients.

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:

• 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
• Education exceptions listed in qualification standard
• 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
• Physical Requirements
• Please see physical requirements in additional information section
• English Language Proficiency
• Proficient in both spoken and written English
• 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-3: None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment: 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-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
• Assignments: 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-5: a) Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• And
• 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/L VNs 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-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
• And (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
• Preferred Experience: One year of PACT experience preferred 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.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties/Functions include - but not limited to: Assist with patient care problems and deviations 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
• Triage - records - and reports vital signs - weight - and blood glucose levels
• Appropriately prioritizes patient needs as routine - urgent - or emergent in the clinical setting and contributes to the Veteran's patient care/treatment as needed
• Possess comprehensive knowledge of VA protocols and VHA directives related to clinic management - documentation - and computer technology
• Demonstrate knowledge - skill - and ability to promptly recognize and effectively intervene in potentially urgent or emergent situations
• Completes Clinical Reminders to meet the changing needs of the patient with notification to the RN or provider for concurrence
• Recognition of urgent/emergent patient care needs - including hypo/hyperglycemia - acute shortness of breath - acute chest pain - seizures - stroke symptoms - mental health issues - etc
• Triage prior to provider face-to-face visits - nurse visits - telephone triage - secure messaging - etc
• Applies knowledge by considering the interrelationship between age - physical - emotional - social - cultural - and population-specific needs when providing care
• Serve 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)
• Assist with diagnostic procedures that include preparing the patient - setting up sterile field and instrumentation - and monitoring the patient's condition
• Contribute to the interdisciplinary PACT team in development - implementation - and evaluation of the treatment plan to promote patient participation and foster patient self-management
• Communicates calmly - courteously - and professionally with all patients - personnel - and visitors while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations and Medical Center policies
• Promotes holistic care and optimize clinic efficiency
• Assists other staff to improve and advance their practical nursing practice as appropriate
• Serves as a resource person for frequently used equipment in the clinic setting and utilizes appropriate protocol for equipment repair and maintenance
• Completes screenings - completes nursing clinical reminders thoroughly and accurately per due dates and clinical appropriateness - including Tobacco Use - Pain Screening - Frail/Elderly Screening - etc
• Huddles with team to discuss consults such as Home Tele-Health - audiology - optometry/ophthalmology - prosthetics - patient education - Home Based Primary Care - etc
• Collaborates with 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
• Completes closure of patient encounters in a timely manner
• Work Schedule: Mon - Fri - 8:00am - 4:30pm 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized