Summary

The Licensed Practical Nurse provides patient centered care to the Poughkeepsie/Pine Plains outpatient clinic using the Patient Aligned Care Team model. Using broad working knowledge of nursing procedures - the LPN will provide a broad range of direct - age-specific patient care activities and supportive services under the guidance and supervision of the Registered Nurse.

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
• 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 as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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
• GS-4. Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria in paragraphs (a) through (c) below:(a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• or(b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) 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. (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.(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
• 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 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
• Preferred Experience: 2-3 years clinic (med-surg background) 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-03 to GS-06
• Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position include lifting - prolonged standing and sitting - frequent bending - walking (distance) - climbing - reaching (overhead - extensive/repetitive) - pulling - pushing - repetitive motion and stooping
• The mental/sensory requirements include recall - reasoning - problem solving - hearing - speaking clearly - writing legibly - keyboarding - reading and logical thinking - depth perception - hearing(aide permitted)
• near/far vision correctable to meet Driver's License requirements.

Duties

• The Licensed Practical Nurse working in Primary Care PACT team is responsible for providing safe - effective clinical and administrative support in a wide variety of patient care and related activities
• The LPN functions as a member of the health care team by demonstrating the practical nursing knowledge and skills necessary in carrying out complex practical nursing care assignments with Primary Care
• The LPN functions under the guidance and supervision of the Registered Professional Nurse and is accountable for demonstrating the knowledge and skills necessary to perform patient care and supportive responsibilities appropriate to the age of the patients served
• The LPN is under the supervision of the Primary Care Nurse Manager
• The LPN is responsible to the Primary Care Nurse Manager for overall work performance and evaluation maintaining acceptable standards within a health care setting
• Responsibilities include - but are not limited to: 1
• Maintains knowledge and skills to care for a wide range of patients including those with acute and chronic illnesses in the clinic setting
• 2
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Demonstrates understanding of disease condition - nursing process
• 3
• Rooms patients into the clinic exam room - interviews patient/and or significant other and documents intake data as per policy
• Possesses comprehensive knowledge of VA protocols - VHA Directives - VA HVCS SOP/Policies 4
• Obtains vital signs - weight and height and completes all nursing clinical reminders thoroughly and accurately per due dates and clinical appropriateness - including Suicide Screening - Alcohol Use Screening - Tobacco Use Screening - Pain Screening - Frail/Elderly Screening - etc..
• and shares information with provider and PACT teams to develops and implements action plans
• 5
• Possesses comprehensive knowledge of VA protocols - VHA Directives - VA HVCS SOP/Policies related to clinic management - documentation and procedural requirements such as storage - use and precleaning of Reusable medical Equipment (RME) - time outs and processing/delivery of specimens to the laboratory
• 6
• Demonstrates knowledge - skill and ability to recognize and effectively intervene in potential or emergent situations
• Rapid Response - Code Blue/Green
• 7
• 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
• 8
• Participates in PACT huddle - answering of secure messages - perform discharge phone calls - Urgent room follow up phone calls - answers outlook messages for the Pact team and responds to nurse triage messages for the Pact team
• 9
• Demonstrates knowledge of standard precautions - medical asepsis - and sterile technique with the ability to correctly apply these principles and techniques with implementation in the clinic setting
• 10
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary PACT team in development - implementation - and evaluation of the treatment plan to promote patient participation and foster patient self-management
• Includes patient and/or family in treatment planning and goal setting
• 11
• Perform venipuncture using two patient identifiers - aseptic technique and appropriate accessioning
• 12
• Set up - clean-up - processing of specimens and transport to the lab per hospital SOP/Policies
• VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Day Tour
• 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 21X34A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized.