The Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) practice is modeled on the standards established within the VHA model for Patient Aligned Care Teams. The LPN performs a variety of supportive, nursing, and medical tasks necessary to the care of patients during diagnostic and therapeutic visits to the Rocky Mountain VA Medical Center Outpatient Clinic.

Duties

This position is part of a VHA Clinical Deployment Team (CDT) which requires readiness for deployment of clinical staff dedicated to the continuity of Veteran healthcare and support to communities in times of crisis. Incumbent must agree to the following requirements/conditions: Be able to deploy, within the team's scheduled deployment windows, to any event within 72 hours of notification with the ability to work seamlessly with receiving facility or agencies. Maintain readiness for an identified minimum of 2 rotational windows of expected deployable status per calendar year, for up to a month at a time. Continuously notify Supervisor of any constraints that may impact deployment to any event within 72 hours, including but not limited to any protected leave entitlements and/or reported injury or illness, by following Supervisor notification processes and VHA Human Resources practices. Understand that the tour of duty during a deployment may differ from the normal shift a CDT staff operates when at the assigned facility. Work under a high stress healthcare environment, possibly in austere conditions, or in an emergency setting, while maintaining awareness of the critical elements of an emergency deployment by processing information from various sources. Understand that CDT may deploy into austere conditions which are defined as: various housing and living conditions to include non-climate controlled, limited privacy sleeping facilities (for example, cots, tents, "hot bunking", gymnasiums, or similar), limited shower and laundry facilities, and limited feeding options (such as shelf stable meals, meals-ready-to-eat, and field kitchens). Work may be performed in an office setting, indoor and outdoor field site, sometimes in adverse weather. Agree to be deployed within their VISN outside of scheduled national CDT deployment windows. VISN deployments may occur at the discretion of the VISN director with the network director keeping in mind the CDT staff's needs for rest, recuperation, and training. CDT staff will not be deployed more than 120 days per year. Must be able to provide direct patient care when deployed to an emergency, within the CDT staff's scope of practice/privileges/licensure/functional statement, with the resources available. Ensure qualifications, required certifications, licensure, and registration particular to the clinical position are maintained and immediately report any issues/changes impacting qualifications, required certifications, licensure, and registration. Ensure that CDT responsibilities are met by maintaining awareness of one's own behavior and is conscious of actions taken to support and or prevent compromising the mission at hand. Complete mandatory CDT training courses prior to being deployed. Demonstrate readiness to apply professional skills to a range of emergency situations during regular training and simulations. Participate in CDT specific training activities (e.g., conferences, exercises, simulations, specific competencies, certifications). Maintain clinical competencies particular to the CDT role by participation in emergency response exercises and code teams. Report to Occupational Health for physical fitness assessments for pre-employment and CDT-required predeployment reviews. Meet the physical demands of the position which may require strenuous physical activity to include carrying persons and equipment, walking long distances over difficult terrain, running, climbing, working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions, long periods of standing, and bending and stooping. Maintain VHA physical fitness requirements, vaccinations, and safety precautions related to infection control, and occupational safety requirements and preventative measures, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. Review, during deployments, timecard for accuracy before submitting to facility supervisor for final approval to reduce timekeeping errors. The deployment orders will contain details regarding the designated timekeeper. Obtain a travel card from the facility and complete all training and reporting requirements associated with the card. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible:Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 57204-O, 57205-O, 57206-O & 57207-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until February 29th, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be December 29th, 2023, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.*** 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. 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. BLS: BLS certification is required. Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State-accrediting agency and/or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) http://www.nlnac.org (copy of transcripts required) OR 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. English Language Proficiency: 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). 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: In addition to the Basic Requirements, candidates must meet requirements for each grade level applied for as outlined below: GS-03: None beyond basic requirements. GS-04: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN. OR, Graduation from an approved school and one year of experience. OR, Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. 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-05: Requires at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. In addition the following criteria must be met: Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact with patients, family members, professional and supportive personnel patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice. 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. 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. Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action. 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: Requires at least 1 year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN. In addition the following criteria must be met: Technically proficient 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 patient' conditions. Ability to observe, identify, and respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education. Prepare and administer prescribed medication (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. 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. 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. Establish constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication, and socialization skills. 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. Actively seek out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice. Preferred Experience: References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13, Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard, dated April 2003. 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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. 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 complete annual Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other offsite locations 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 Eastern Colorado HCS Denver 13611 E. Colfax Ave Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: Tameka Snowden
• Phone: 4128223904
• Email: [email protected]