The PACT LPN 7 is a clinic leader for maintaining effective daily flow for the PACTs, assisting in schedule management oversight as well as other administrative and clinical duties. Is involved in frontline patient check-in, clinic flow, patient education, and preparedness for optimal daily healthcare of Veterans. The LPN practices within a designated service in VA Montana and supports the mission and vision of the HCS of the functions under the supervision of an RN, PA/NP or MD.

Duties

Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: Completion of least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS6 LPN/LVN and performs a wide range of patient care with additional supportive clinical and administrative duties to the Clinic/Nurse Manager. LPNs at the GS-7 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-6 grade level; however, they are expected to exercise greater judgment, require less supervision, and to operate in accordance with all established policies, procedure, and techniques. The LPN GS-7 will also assist NM with daily clinic flow, schedule management oversight, EOC compliance, EARR compliance, equipment management, EIL, process improvement activities, VISTA key and menu review, and other clinic operation duties. May be required to travel; all mandatory training for travel will be completed during orientation. The LPN 7 has the knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing assignments, including primary care with collaboration with other disciplines and specialties outside of PACT including non-VA care, specialties, surgical services, prosthetics, nutrition, hospice, and palliative care. The staff mix is such that the employee at this grade is expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under general supervision. Demonstrates sufficient knowledge of care appropriate to adult and geriatric patients, including an understanding of age-related changes in skin, bones, hearing, vision, thermoregulation, communication needs, balance and ambulation, behavioral health issues, and related consideration and precautions. Implements age-specific knowledge and skills to modify "personalized" patient education to partner with and accommodate specific needs for the adult and geriatric patient to promote self-managed care and health goals with improved outcomes. Independently facilitates group and individual nurse led education clinics, helps facilitate shared medical appointments as well. Works in tandem with the NM to maintain a safe environment assuring appropriate use equipment, devices, and safety measures for all patients and contributes to the assessment of fall risks to implements appropriate preventive measures. Contributes to assessment of pain and discomfort status consistently using appropriate pain scales and collaborates with the provider to integrate individualized interventions to keep pain/discomfort at appropriate/tolerable level. Demonstrates a knowledge base that promotes the incorporation of current patient data and contributes in a significant and valuable manner to the development/modification of individual or overall patient needs indicated in the patient's personalized plan of care. Implements care for more complex/specialized patient care duties based on a broader knowledge and skills with less supervision including certification in foot care, facilitation of individual and group patient education for chronic disease management. Demonstrates the use of accurate patient data for appropriate effective priority setting in the delivery of patient care and demonstrates the ability to significantly contribute to assist the RN, PA/NP, or MD to prioritize, and adjust/mediate individual or overall plans for care delivery. Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and /or intravenous) and performs treatments per 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, PA/NP, or MD. Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations; seeks assistance of the RN, PA/NP, or MD 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, groups and other staff. Independently provides education to individuals or independently facilitates group education for patients and families to take a more active role in promoting healthy lifestyles and self-managed care. Work in tandem with the NM to develop an annual education plan for the unit. Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Lead Licensed Practical Nurse/PD52842A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

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. 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-accrediting agency and/or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) http://www.nlnac.org (copy of transcripts required) - OR - 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. 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the Basic Requirements, candidates must meet requirements for each grade level applied for as outlined below: GS-7 Experience: In addition to meeting basic requirements, LPNs at the GS 7 grade level must have completed at least (1) one year of qualifying experience at the GS 6 level or equivalent and fully meet all performance requirements for the GS 6 LPN. AND GS-7 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): The following KSAs are required at the GS-7 grade level for the LPN. Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in selected, more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings. Knowledge base promotes the incorporation of current patient care data in actively contributing to the development of the patient's overall health plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions. Positions at this grade level require broader knowledge and skills because supervision is more general and employees are expected to be involved to a greater degree in the development and modification of treatment plans. Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery. Makes astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes, both physical and emotional, in patient's condition, and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patient's response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient's care plan. Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention. At this grade level, the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing, and, as appropriate, modifying patient care treatment. They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations. Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and patient's response to medications/treatments received. (This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions, promptly inform the RN or MD/DO of observed changes in patient's condition and initiate appropriate, prescribed interventions. Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels. Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO for appropriate team intervention and effectively intervene, as directed, to assure the continuation of optimal, safe and therapeutic patient care delivery. At this grade level, the LPN/LVN must have a broader knowledge of the patient treatment process and exercise judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate. Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes. Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with patients and/or family members who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control, resistant or abusive behaviors, or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions. This includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervision. Exhibits skill, creativity and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces, research projects or in developing educational materials/media. Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice. Possesses comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices to serve as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care. Serves as a role model and mentor to other nursing staff in the application of more complex technology, effectively guiding and directing their continuing practice in these areas. Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery. Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO. In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level, the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff. Work of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervision. Individuals in these positions are, to a considerable extent, expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles, art and science of practical nursing. The staff mix is such that employees at this grade level are expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under very general supervision. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice.] References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13, Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard, dated April 2003. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Fort Harrison VA Medical Center 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636 US
• Name: Barbara Ruicker
• Phone: 918-616-1494
• Email: [email protected]