This is Open to Internal Madison VA Central Specialty Clinic LPN Candidates Only. Candidates will be chosen to fill a vacant position at The William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, WI in The Specialty Clinics. A recruitment/relocation incentive is not authorized.

Duties

The Specialty Care Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) GS-7 functions as a member of the health care team by demonstrating an exceptional degree of practical nursing knowledge and skills necessary for self-direction in carrying out complex practical nursing care assignments within the Primary and Specialty Clinics for a Veteran population with a variety of health care needs. The LPNs successfully and consistently demonstrate independent technical judgment as well as comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of complex practices and procedures. Incumbent demonstrates knowledge, experience, skill, and self-motivation to carry out complex patient assignments, which include prioritization and coordination of clinical activities with minimal supervision. Major Duties: Provides patient care and assistance for complex, specialized patients including such measures as personal hygiene, positioning, elimination, and socialization in the completion of all direct patient care in the clinic setting. Initiates and collects patient data including MC reminders, vital signs, weights, oximetry, accuchecks and the collection of specimens. Initiates and performs specialized nonstandard and complex procedures including urinary bladder scanning, oxygen therapy, ostomy care, EKG, and spirometry. Initiates procedure preparation, adapting them to the patient's physical and emotional needs before, during and after procedures, observing and managing therapeutic or possible complications resulting from the procedure. Knowledgeably initiates and performs nursing measures to prevent complications by recognizing deviations and/or changes in patient conditions. Knowledgeably recognizes and responds/initiates emergency measures. Responds promptly to emergency situations in the clinic. Provides safe administration of medications in accordance with Medical Center's and Nursing Service policy and monitors side effects. Continues to keep updated on new medications. Prioritizes effectively and manages time productively in the clinical setting. Works effectively with others and communicates in an appropriate, tactful and courteous manner. Demonstrates knowledge and application of interpersonal skills as a responsible member of the nursing and health care team. Explains to the patient and family treatment measures, tests and procedure preparations, and proper administration of medications. Provides patients with encouragement needed to comply with treatment plan and reassurance to assist in coping with illness. Documents in the patient's medical record observations of patient's physical and emotional status as well as responses to procedures performed and treatments rendered. Documents all data collected and nursing care provided. Reports all relevant patient information to clinic RN or provider. Demonstrates knowledge and application of the computer system. Communicates accurate, concise, and complete information to the providers in an independent and timely manner. Utilizes all communication methods as available with the PACT model on the assigned team. Actively participates in PACT team huddles, meetings and PACT functions when assigned to a PACT team. Exhibits willingness to accept additional responsibilities. Exhibits knowledge and judgment in recognizing changes in the patient's condition and initiates corrective interventions. Assists with rehabilitative aspects of patient care. Reinforcement of patient teaching. Actively contributes to the development and updating of patient CPRS records and promotes patient participation in his treatment plan. Assists with clinic orientation of new employees, participates on Committee(s), and demonstrates constructive problem solving skills. Offers assistance to co-workers when needed and when own assignment has been completed. Initiates unit maintenance duties, and keeps a safe, clean area. Practices proper body mechanics, acting to prevent injury to self and others. Operates all specialized equipment in a safe manner, identifies and reports any potential safety hazards. Removes unsafe equipment from use. Initiates protective and safety measures, including recognition of patients exhibiting signs of confusion, sedation, and/or behaviors which are potentially dangerous to self and others. Complies with established safety policy and procedures. Reports to supervisory personnel potential or actual unit problems that impact on the overall function of the clinic. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible:Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 15 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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: Must be a graduate of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State accrediting agency and/or the National League for Nursing at the time the program was completed by the applicant. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in both spoken and written English. 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). Licensure: Must have a full, current, active and unrestricted license as a graduate licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States or District of Columbia. GRADE DETERMINATIONS:GS-7: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-6LPN/LVN: 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07 References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G-13 Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must comply with any Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment. In the performance of duties, the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

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 William S Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital 2500 Overlook Terrace Madison, WI 53705 US
• Name: Cindra Johnson
• Phone: 6086221070
• Email: [email protected]