The William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital is a Level 1 b major interdisciplinary teaching facility with service -lines serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients, with an Emergency Department and multiple Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co-morbidities. Home-Based Primary Care nursing care is also provided.

Duties

1. 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. 2. Initiates and collects patient data including MC reminders, vital signs, weights, oximetry, accuchecks, SLUMS and the collection of specimens. 3. Initiates and performs specialized nonstandard and complex procedures including urinary bladder scanning, oxygen therapy, nebulizer treatments, ostomy care, EKG, and spirometry. 4. 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. 5. Knowledgeably initiates and performs nursing measures to prevent complications by recognizing deviations and/or changes in patient conditions. 6. Prepares, administers and documents medications and immunizations as directed without error. 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. Utilizes the Wisconsin Immunization Registry and JL V to obtain accurate immunization records and record VA administered immunizations for Dual Care Veterans. 7. Prioritizes effectively and manages time productively in the clinical setting. 8. Knowledgeably follows and utilizes the nurse protocols entering consults and orders when applicable. 9. Explains to the patient and family treatment measures, tests and procedure preparations, and proper administration of medications. 10. 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. 11. Assists with rehabilitative aspects of patient care. Reinforcement of patient teaching. 12. Operates all specialized equipment in a safe manner, identifies and reports any potential safety hazards. Removes unsafe equipment from use. 13. 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. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday: variable tours between 7:00am - 5:00pm (Will be discussed during the interview) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized for highly qualified individuals. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Requirements: Requires potentially long periods of continues walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patient and objects may be required. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. Positions may be filled at GS-3 to GS-6 range.

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Noncitizens may 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 agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. (1) 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. (2) VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986; and for their future personnel actions under this authority. The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions. (3) Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school. See paragraph 4, section C. Licensure. Full, active, current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or District of Columbia. An LPN/LVN who has or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part. Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Grade Determinations: GS-3. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4. 1. Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or 2. 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.; or 3. Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. 4. LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-3 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. GS-5 1. Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. 2. Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Works with the RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery. Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and/or prescribed treatment regimes. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action. 7. Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO. Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures. However, completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review. GS-6: 1. 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. 2. Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. 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. 9. 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. 10. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/3, PART II, APPENDIX G13.

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: Loring Jacks
• Phone: 617-821-2584
• Email: [email protected]