Stand ready with VA to help in an emergency A disaster can strike at any time - an earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or global pandemic can leave our Veterans, families, and communities in desperate need of help. That's why the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is creating Clinical Deployment Teams (CDTs) to stand ready to assist. We're looking for clinical personnel to serve on these teams and help transform how we provide health care services in times of great need.

Duties

The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) is a direct-care provider who has the technical proficiency and excellent observation skills necessary for initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties in delivering comprehensive practical nursing care to variable patient populations. Demonstrates excellent ability to balance many competing demands and sets priorities effectively, while supporting multiple providers. Has knowledge and ability to appropriately carry-out assigned patient care based on patients' conditions. Demonstrates competency in dealing with a high volume of patients with chronic disease (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac and pulmonary disease), as well as acute episodes of illness. Completed work needs only a general review by registered nurse for appropriateness and conformity with established policies and procedures. LPN/LVN responsibilities include: Direct Patient Care: Demonstrates a broad scope of practical nursing. Demonstrates sound judgment in selecting the most appropriate application of procedures and guidelines and ability to plan patient care and set priorities. Observes, identifies, and responds to patients' needs for care, including medication and equipment assisted care, and recognizes deviations from normal. Consistently complies with HIPPA Privacy Rules. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Recognizes and promptly reports suspected patient abuse. Observes, identifies, and responds to patient/family education needs, and teaches in accordance with current clinical practice standards. Has knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of RN or MD, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions, as directed. Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to promote positive relationships, communication, and socialization skills. Has 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. Indirect Patient Care: Accurately recognizes, reports, and records relevant patient information. Actively seeks educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve performance. Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, and training less experienced LVNs or NAs related to support duties for more complex, specialized tests/procedures. Consistently practices Standard Precautions and other infection control measures, including good hand hygiene and promotes compliance with procedures for patients with suspected communicable disease, utilization of personal protective equipment, etc. Assists in promoting safe work habits and is a role model for other staff in fostering safety principles and practices. Knowledge and practice of pertinent National Safety Goals. Serves as preceptor in orienting, teaching, and training less experienced LVNs and NAs / HTs related to support duties for more complex, specialized tests/procedures. Participates in research under direction of RN, when assigned. Contributes to smooth operation of clinic by consistently ensuring that support and administrative tasks are carried out. Demonstrates knowledge of pertinent SOP and competency in set up, proper use, and disinfection, of RME/DME (Reusable Medical Equipment/Durable medical Equipment) in the unit. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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. 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. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. GS-03 None beyond the basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved. GS-04 (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or(b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) 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-05 Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Ability to serve as a responsible member of a nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professional and/or other support personnel involved in the delivery of patient care. Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous medications. This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting noted changes in the patient's condition. Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardia and/or pulmonary arrest. Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies. GS-06 Proficiency 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, using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments, and accurately recognizing, reporting, and recording relevant patient information. Ability to observe, identify, and response to a patient's needs for care including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education. Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for, documents, and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments. Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directed. Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations and the ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members and other staff. Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which includes preparing the patient and 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. Preferred Experience and Certifications Prior ambulatory care experience Current Basic Life Support (BLS) provider card Prior specialty care experience

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.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-13 Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

NOTE: Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who were converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986 are considered to have met the Education requirement. The waiver does not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions.

Contacts

• Address Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Calvin Samonte
• Phone: 415-221-4810
• Email: [email protected]