The Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) LPN is a licensed professional nurse at an intermediate level of development. The HBPC LPN will work closely with other members of the HBPC team, including Social Work, Nutrition Care, Physical Rehabilitation, Pharmacy, and Psychology, as delegated by the Registered Nurse. The HBPC LPN collects patient data and provides Veteran care as outlined by the RN and within the LPN's scope of practice.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides for patient personal hygiene. Feeds and/or encourages nourishment and fluids, PO and enteral. Assists patient in elimination by promoting bowel and bladder evacuation, including placement of external and indwelling urinary catheters, giving enemas and/or rectal suppositories, changes dressing/pouches and irrigates established ostomies. Provides catheter care and irrigates indwelling catheters. Uses aseptic technique in performing treatments, such as simple and complex dressing changes, care of Stage I-IV pressure sores, bladder catheterizations and irrigations and tracheostomy care. Administers medications (PO, subcutaneous, IM, IV, rectal and topical). Turns, positions, and assists patients with proper positioning and applies protective padding to prevent skin breakdown. Measures and documents vital signs, pulse oximetry and fingerstick glucose testing. Collects specimens of body excretions and/or secretions; uses universal precautions and follows infection control policies and procedures in providing care and in specimen collection. Maintains phlebotomy competency. Demonstrates knowledge, skill and ability to recognize and respond to emergency situations. CPR/BLS certified. Performs peripheral venipuncture for the purpose of obtaining blood samples. Cares for and observes the physical, mental and behavioral status of patients on special observation. Demonstrates competence in all appropriate elements of clinical skills checklist during orientation and on an annual basis. Uses good judgment in determining what tasks lie within the scope of practice and competency. Demonstrates knowledge, skills and ability for concentrated effort and self-direction in providing a full range of practical nursing care to patients with unstable/complex physical and/or behavioral problems. Demonstrates ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's need for nursing, medication and equipment assisted care and to recognize deviations from normal. Considers physical, emotional and social factors when recommending modifications to the plan of care. Demonstrates knowledge of human behavior, motivations and reactions to situations. Demonstrates ability to use knowledge to work effectively with patients, families and other staff members. Care provided is specific to age of the patient and takes into account bio-psychosocial differences related to age. Demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Interacts with patients appropriately, works cooperatively with others, documents patient observations and care, and communicates information to other members of the health care team to facilitate holistic care. Functions in a dependable, reliable and safe manner in the performance of nursing care. Demonstrates ability to interact with patients, visitors and staff in a courteous and respectful manner. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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. 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 (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 (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 to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs and/or Nursing Assistants/Health Technicians 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. (e) Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated, promptly seek the assistance of the RN, 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 year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN. (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 or physician 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 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. (f) Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN, 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 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.

Education

IMPORTANT: 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.

Contacts

• Address Syracuse VA Medical Center 800 Irving Ave Syracuse, NY 13210 US
• Name: Darci Cook
• Phone: 315-425-4400
• Email: [email protected]