Job opening: Practical Nurse- Nursing Home Care Unit (Nhcu)
Salary: $52 445 - 81 693 per year
Published at: Sep 26 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
The Licensed Practical/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN), is located within the Community Living Center (CLC), located in Vancouver, WA, part of the VA Portland Healthcare System.
Duties
The Licensed Practical/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN), functioning in the Community Living Center (CLC), demonstrates the ability to 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.
The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:
Performs a range of treatment procedures which include application of complex sterile and non-sterile dressings, wound packing and irrigation, ostomy management, bladder catheter insertion and removal, tube feedings, IV starts, discontinuing of IV heplocks, enemas, tracheostomy suctioning and care, and EKGs.
Recognizes, reports and records relevant patient information as it pertains to the patient plan of care and/or changes in patient condition.
Demonstrates the ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient care needs, including medication and equipment-assisted care.
Provides comprehensive patient teaching; determines patient/family readiness to learn and adjusts teaching modalities appropriately.
Recognizes and considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors and integrates these into the patient care interventions.
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 condition from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to the RN.
Demonstrates knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, to seek assistance of the RN, and to initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family right to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery.
Demonstrates skill in incorporating knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members, and/or other internal/external customers.
Performs 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.
As staffing dictates, LPNs may be assigned to work the floor in the same capacity as a Nursing Assistant.
Performing aspects of nursing care to meet patient/resident needs such as Personal Hygiene, Physical Comfort, Activity, Exercise,Rest, Nutrition, Prevention of Skin Breakdown, and Rehabilitative Aspects of Care
Work Schedule:Day shift 6:00am to 2:30pm, evening shift 2:00pm to 10:00pm, night shift 10:00pm to 6:30am, May include Holidays and Weekends
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact
[email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
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. Exceptions include 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 OR granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVN.
Licensure - Active, full, current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), of the United States or the District of Columbia.
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade.
GS-3. None beyond the basic requirements.
GS-4
(a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN;
or
(b) 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
(c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
GS-5
(a) Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent.
(b) Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.
GS-6
(a) 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.
(b) Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) 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.
(g) 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.
(h) 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.
(i) 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.
(j) 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: >2 years Nursing Home or Inpatient Hospital experience ventilator experience
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/3 PART II APPENDIX G13
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.
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 VA Portland Health Care System
3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road
Portland, OR 97239
US
- Name: Laurie Johnson
- Phone: (503) 220-8262 X51488
- Email: [email protected]
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