The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a registered professional nurse who functions as a member of the health care team in the role of Nurse Coordinator for the department of Access Management & Care Coordination of Patient Care, Administrative Services (AM & CC).

Duties

Job duties include but are not limited to: A. Implements, evaluates, and coordinates the patients' care with all interdisciplinary teams within the VA medical center, CBOCs, and private sector providers. B. Completes comprehensive nursing documentation according to standards. C. Educates patients about their general care, side effects and recovery process related to the specialty care being provided. D. Readily identifies patient complications and acts to resolve issues. E. Demonstrates a knowledge of specialty nursing trends and evidence-based care in assigned unit or program. F. Analyzes and appropriately manages consults, laboratory and radiology results and other significant medical records/documents. Provides information to physician or appropriate health care team in a timely and appropriate manner. G. Evaluates the Screening Triage Tool to institute expected care plan, including escalating further assessment needs and interventions to the Registered Nurse based on data outcome. H. Oversees the general care of the unit, individuals work area, and patient areas for safety and security. I. Readily identifies ethical dilemmas and appropriately consults the registered nurse, nurse manager/chief or service, or seek ethics consultation. J. Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes, offering resources that can be provided through the VA. K. Provides indirect nursing care to patients with complex needs as related to consult management as well as by assuming responsibility and accountability for nursing action. L. Demonstrates active listening and excellent interviewing skills to obtain pertinent information from the caller and utilizes computerized medical record as an additional information resource. M. Incorporates knowledge of Veteran eligibility as per policy and within the department of AM & CC. N. Identifies and communicates problem areas between disciplines to improve outcomes. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm, 8:00am- 4:30pm, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 91375-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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 Accrediting Agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing 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. English Language: Proficiency. Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English. 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-07: Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN, and has the following knowledge, skills and abilities: 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, Part II, Appendix G13, Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07 Physical Requirements: Must pass pre-employment examination and designate drug testing portion. Work requires long periods of sitting and long periods of daily computer and telephone work, some walking and bending. Work requires occasional mandatory staff meeting that may be conducted at the VAMC or CBOCs (Community Based Outpatient Care) VA Healthcare facilities, or via MS Teams.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

PLEASE 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 Northeast Ohio Healthcare System 10701 East Boulevard Cleveland, OH 44106 US
• Name: Sabine Leach
• Phone: 814-520-2711
• Email: [email protected]