The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for an LPN (Geriatrics). The LPN (Geriatrics) will function in Medicine Service.

Duties

The Geriatric PACT LPN works collaboratively in the Geriatric Clinic with Mental Health providers and Social Work colleagues to address the discipline-specific, health related challenges encountered in frail, chronically ill Veterans of advanced age, communicates and collaborates effectively with health professionals from other health disciplines and communicates effectively with the older adult veteran population and their caregivers. The Geriatric PACT LPN will be expected to have proficiency in the following areas: -Makes observations and thoroughly documents patient care, seeking assistance and guidance by informing the Geriatric PACT RN or medical provider of changes in the patient's condition requiring higher level intervention -Performs, reports, and records assigned nursing care in the Geriatric PACT clinic including, but not limited to oxygen therapy, PVRs, medication administration to include vaccinations and IV medication if certified, basic wound care and clinical reminders -Reviews expiration dates of medications and supplies -Documents and assists with minor procedures, including obtaining and arranging necessary equipment, positioning patient to ensure comfort and privacy, and monitoring the patient during the procedure -Adheres to standards of practice and safe technique in preparation and administration of medication -Demonstrates understanding of age-and population-specific characteristics that affect the health care needs of the Veteran -Recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations, seeking assistance, and effectively intervening as directed when appropriate -Provides patient and family health education, to include self-management, prevention, and wellness -Interacts and communicates appropriately with patients and family members -Demonstrates professional behavior (i.e., respect, civility, ability to accept constructive criticism), effective communication and interpersonal skills -Adheres to principles of infection control, safety, and universal precautions including the proper handling and pre-cleaning of reusable medical equipment -Demonstrates competence utilizing special equipment needed to perform the job -Assists in the orientation and competency validation of students, peers, and clerical staff -Maintains confidentiality of electronic, written, and/or verbal patient information -Serves as a resource and advocate in the protection of patient and family rights -Completes mandatory reviews, including motivational interviewing, in order to promote patient self-management toward individualized life plan of care -Supports patient-driven care in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner, using evidence-based principles -Utilizes all available tools, such as registries, to enable effective and efficient identification and intervention of individual patients and cohorts -Participates in team performance improvement and sustainment activities to optimize team efficiency and care delivery to patients -Manages communications and facilitates safe transitions of patients between the PACT's site of care and other health care settings, using informal and formal communication methods, as appropriate -Provides health education and health coaching on wellness, disease prevention, chronic care management, and self-management skills to patients and personal support persons, commensurate with the documented expertise or professional training of the PACT member -Engages patients in using health care, encouraging patients to engage personal support persons, receiving input from patients and personal support persons regarding VA care -Uses formal and informal communications that are respectful, effective, timely, and bidirectional with all team members (including the patient and personal support persons) to convey significant, clinically relevant information for the care of the patient -Provides evaluation and care consistent with licensure, certification, and functional statement with elements of practice, to patients assigned PACTs -Collaborates with PACT staff to develop comprehensive health care plans and care management plans for patients assigned to patient panels -Manages clinic workflow; ensures patients are placed in examination rooms in a timely manner, and provides direction to patients as they move through the clinic environment Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/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. 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 Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or 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. 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. 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 (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia. An LPN/LVN who 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. Grade Determinations For an LPN (Geriatrics) GS-6 In addition to the basic requirements stated in section A, 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. Experience: Completion of at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN. Experience at the GS-5 level may include: 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 work 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 Ability to effectively educate patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and /or prescribed treatment regimes 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 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 Ability to Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. 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 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 Ability to prepare and administer prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and perform treatments according to established policies/procedures Ability to observe physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly and accurately document noted changes, and report 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 Ability to establish constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills, foster an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery, and effectively incorporate knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions 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 References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13 The full performance level of this vacancy is 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.

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 Northeast Ohio Healthcare System 10701 East Boulevard Cleveland, OH 44106 US
• Name: Ruby Urban
• Phone: 216-215-2733
• Email: [email protected]