This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

The LPN demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide practical nursing care to Veteran patients within the Nursing Service Line. This service line cares for patients treated in an outpatient medical-surgical hospital clinic, located on the Seattle or American Lake Campuses of VA Puget Sound. The LPN must demonstrate the ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing care team and interact with Veterans, family members, other health care professionals, and other employees of the organization. Participates with the health care team to deliver quality care to Veterans while they are being seen in the clinical setting. The LPN assigned to the Outpatient Specialty Clinics will be cross-trained to support in a variety of specialty medical-surgical clinical areas. Medical/Surgical Specialty Clinic -The Specialty Clinics cover a wide variety of Medicine and Surgery specialties. The LPN provides care for Veterans with a variety of health disorders, with age ranges from young adult to geriatric. The LPN completes assigned duties and responsibilities which involve performing non-standard and specialized practical nursing activities, requiring broad work experience, and demonstrated skill sufficient to resolve a range of nursing problems. Duties: Providing nursing expertise in preventative screening, managing clinic flow, and data collection. Effectively utilizing tools/resources in the pre-visit scrubbing process. Actively participating in daily huddles and team meetings. Performing simple diagnostic procedures such as bladder scanning and EKGS. Assist with minor procedures as needed depending on specialty. Accepting delegation within the scope of practice for tasks related to care coordination, procedures, and treatments. Delivering care to patients in a respectful non-judgmental manner and according to Patient Care Plan. Demonstrating understanding of age - and population-specific characteristics that affect the health care needs of the Veteran. Performing aspects of admission/discharge procedures as directed. Collecting patient data including observations of patient status (i.e. vital signs, oxygen saturation, medication reconciliation, etc.). Accurately reporting patient/client information. Recognizing subtle and significant changes in the patient in response to nursing care and communicating changes in condition/response to the team. Promptly recognizing urgent or emergent patient care situations and effectively intervenes; seeks RN/provider assistance for those requiring higher-level intervention. Organizing/prioritizing routine and non-routine nursing care activities. Providing care to patients/clients appropriate to their cognitive, physical, emotional, and chronological maturation. Maintains appropriate boundaries in the nurse/Veteran relationship by not obtaining personal gain at the Veterans' expense and refrain from inappropriate involvement in the Veterans' personal relationships. Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, and training. Role model and is accountable to adherence to external reviewer standards, policies, procedures, standards of care, standards of practice, patient-centered care guidelines, and cultural transformation. Seeks out educational opportunities. Accurately documenting and retrieving patient/clinical information using electronic medical records. Reports all discrepancies promptly to the RN. Identifies Veterans needing immunizations and administers them as needed. Providing effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medications, and/or prescribed diagnostic and/or treatment regimes, as directed. Adhering to standards of practice and safe technique in preparation and administration of medicine, documents administration in EHRM, and observing patients for adverse effects from medication and reporting to team RN. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Local Time Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Licensed Practical Nurse / 00000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Please contact the VISN 20 EDRP Coordinator Stacy Hermann @ [email protected] Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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:] (1) 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. (2) VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401 (3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, 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. [(3) Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school. See paragraph 4, section C.] 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. 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 Candidates may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the following criteria: 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-5 Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. Employees assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities: 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/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. 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.

Education

Continued Qualifications:

GS-6

• 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.
• Employees assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
  • Proficient in initiating, performing and completing 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 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.
  • 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 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. 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.
  • 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: Previous clinic experience.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/3 PART II APPENDIX G13 II-G13-1 APPENDIX G13. LICENSED PRACTICAL OR VOCATIONAL NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD.

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.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Straight pulling (6 hours); Pushing (2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (6 hours); Standing (2 hours); Repeated bending (6 hours); Visual Acuity 20/30 corrected.

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 VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Rekesha Harrell
• Phone: 769-901-0822
• Email: [email protected]