The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for a Licensed Practical Nurse for the Allentown Community Based Outpatient Clinic for the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT).

Duties

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in this position includes the following duties but not limited to the following: - Interviews the patient, obtains vital signs, and prepares the patient for visits with her/his Primary Care Physician - Maintains current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification status. - Implements preventative health initiatives by conducting annual health screenings and education on all patients enrolled in Primary Care. - Administers immunizations as needed and documents procedure(s). - Provides immediate nursing intervention in emergency situations. -Is responsible for ordering/maintaining supplies in the clinical area. - Utilizes Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) options such as patient Inquiry and e-mail to perform daily functions. - Completes clinical reminders on all patients enrolled in Primary Care. Participates in outreach programs. - Adheres to Nursing Documentation guidelines per Medical Center Policy. - Performs EKGs, Phlebotomy, immunizations, & others (i.e. Holter, pulse oximetry). - Monitors and Records temperatures for refrigerators if appropriate and reports out of range temperatures. - Completes Diabetic and At-Risk Foot examinations. - Maintains competency for all clinically appropriate procedures. - Makes observations and thoroughly documents care and the patient's response. -Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing Registered Nurse (RN) or medical provider of changes in the patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention. - Performs follow-up discharge calls for hospital and emergency room discharges to ensure continuity of care. - Demonstrates knowledge of the high-risk registry and Care Assessment Needs Score- Documents patient care into the Computerized Patient Care System (CPRS) utilizing the appropriate note title and encounter according to policy and standard operating procedures. - Demonstrates understanding of age and population-specific characteristics that affect the health care needs of the Veteran. - Promptly recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations, seeks assistance and effectively intervenes as directed when appropriate. - Based on the patient's goals, provides patient and family health education, to include self-management, prevention and wellness. - Interacts and communicates appropriately with patients and family members. - Demonstrates professional behavior (i.e., respect, civility, ability to accept constructive criticism), effective communication and interpersonal skills. - Adheres to principles of infection control, safety, and universal precautions. - Actively participates in daily huddles, team meetings, and interdisciplinary opportunities to improve patient care at the program level. - Assists in the orientation and competency validation of students, peers, and clerical staff. - Maintains confidentiality of electronic, written, and/or verbal patient information. - Serves as a resource and advocate in the protection of patient and family rights. - Completes all mandatory training timely and participates in PACT initiatives which include but are not limited to Secure Messaging, TEACH training, and Motivational Interviewing (MI) in order to promote patient self-management toward individualized plan of care. - Initiates/participates in quality improvement opportunities to improve patient care facility wide and at the program level. - Checks daily for outdated medication & supplies that include, but are not limited to:Accuchek controls, Omnicell discrepancies, and crash cart check list. - Maintains privacy and confidentiality of all patient information, including electronic, print, and conversations. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 0745 am to 4:15 pm Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Practical Nurse-PRIMARY CARE AND COMMUNITY-BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC/PD000000 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. 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: 2 years experience in outpatient setting to include Primary Care, Specialty Care, Urgent Care, Home Care. 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-3 None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 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. 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-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. 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 06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 03 to 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 Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center 1111 East End Boulevard Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 US
• Name: Shaunella Kennedy
• Phone: 412-822-3562
• Email: [email protected]