Under the supervision of a licensed Registered Nurse the Licensed Practical Nurse functions as a member of the nursing team and assists the RN in the care of patients in acute, subacute, or chronic states of illness. The incumbent delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies. This position is to perform a very wide range of patient personal care, support diagnostic services, and chart activities on a regular and continual basis.

Duties

Duties and or responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following: Supports diagnostic procedures, performs support duties for complex diagnostic test and or specialized practices or procedures. Prepare patients; assist with diagnostic exam, preparing specimens; preparing and passing instruments; monitor the patient's condition before, during, and after the procedure; and perform phlebotomy. Assist with technical nursing treatments. Nurses must master equipment used to stabilize and monitor patients, including: electrocardiogram (EKG) machines, oxygen tanks, nasal cannula tubing, blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeter, ear flushes, administer a variety of injections in a timely manner, and ensure the procedure is documented. Provide care that incorporates the age, gender, culture, and learning needs of patients requiring basic planning and evaluation of care - Incorporates cultural sensitivity into the care of all Veterans, being cognizant of the diverse population of Veterans from all adult ages, eras, and conflicts. Apply infection control measures appropriately in delivering care. Practices hand hygiene per policy; using hand sanitizers; good hand washing; donning gloves for procedures, as appropriate; cleaning equipment, examination tables, and chairs with Cavi-wipes; and ensures masks are worn by Veteran when droplet precautions are warranted. Communicate with team members regarding patient care. Contributes to the interdisciplinary team (IDT) in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the patient's treatment and discharge plan. Collaborates with members of other services regarding changes in patient's condition, laboratory results, responses to treatment plan, and other pertinent parameters of care. Participates in Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) team huddles with provider, PACT RN, and clerk on a regular basis. Keeps provider on schedule with clinic appointments. Adhere to ethical and principles and standards in delivering care. Promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient. Protect all patient information by securing documents and protecting computer screens from the view of others. Practices with respect for autonomy of the Veteran, exercising fairness, truthfulness, and justice. Enter information into patients' records/charts. Triage notes include vital signs, reminders, and patient input/responses. Follows process to ensure that notes from other disciplines, outside providers, and hospitals, are scanned into the patient's record. Prepares and administers prescribed medications, performing treatments according to established policies. Observes for physical and emotional change in Veteran's condition; tests blood glucose, using POC testing with glucometer; ear flushes; and phlebotomy. Use effective communication skills with co-workers to achieve desired patient outcomes. Prioritizes patient requests received via telephone, social media, or face-to-face. Provide teaching to patients, educating patients and significant others in their medical condition, prescribed medications, equipment, treatments, and activity level. Documents patient education and patient response. Provides Veteran with contact information for the clinic, their team members, and access via secure messaging. Performs additional duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 7:45am-4:15pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not required EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. Learn more PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. 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 45 pounds or more, reaching above the shoulder, frequent pushing medication carts; and use finger and both and hand and legs. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The incumbent must be able to navigate all areas of the facility, use a keyboard, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when necessary, as well as direct others to perform it, and perform other activities of the position without any restrictions.

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. English Language Proficiency: Written and Spoken. Physical Standards: All applicants must meet the physical standards for the position. A physical examination prior to employment may be required. 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. 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. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Minimum 1 year of outpatient or acute care nursing experience. GRADE DETERMINATIONS: In addition to the basic requirements stated in section A, 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. GS-03 None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or 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 Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. GS-05 Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. 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 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-06 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. 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; 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. REFERENCES: VA Handbook 5005/27, Part II, Appendix G13, LICENSED PRACTICAL OR VOCATIONAL NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD, dated April 10, 2003. 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 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 South Lincoln Avenue Lebanon, PA 17042 US
• Name: Tessy Wigfield
• Phone: 570-550-2889
• Email: [email protected]