Surgery/Specialty Clinics serve adult and elderly Veterans with a variety of medical and surgical specialty needs which include ambulatory specialty care, emergency care, collaboration with numerous providers within specialty care, pre and/or post-operative care, surgical care, long term care, and behavioral health care.

Duties

Be proficient & demonstrate competency and the ability to either set up or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment as applicable for all equipment for which you have been trained. Demonstrate competency in performing all unit specific nursing interventions and procedures to include but not limited to: Understand and implement the PACT model, PACT Protocols, PACT handbook implements & documents education provided to patients & families. Delivers safe care to assigned patients, while developing technical competencies based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice, VHA Directives, & local policies. Correctly & safely performs nursing procedures or seeks help when needed. Recognizes overt abnormal signs & symptoms and/or changes in patients' condition & responds appropriately. Responsible for timely implementation of orders & nursing interventions. Updates plan of care with assistance as needed. Develops & implements a plan to meet learning needs, instructing patients and families in basic health teaching & discharge planning. Documentation is consistent, accurate, concise, & timely. Revise's plan of care according to evaluations of patient's responses and outcomes. Uses the Computerized Patient Record System & the Bar-Coded Medication Administration software per policy. Demonstrates appropriate & consistent critical thinking skills. The nurse can recognize the patient has a problem and involves the appropriate team members. The nurse manages the problem safely & effectively within his/her scope of practice. The nurse has a relative sense of urgency. Maintains role-specific competency checklist complete & is rated competent in all measured areas. Provides care in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner, respecting the values of members of all cultures. Practice follows the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses. Treats all patients and families with dignity & respect. Listens to and honors patient & family perspectives and choices. Maintains professional boundaries with patients, families, & employees. Demonstrates responsibility & accountability for own nursing judgments and actions. Safeguard's patient privacy and maintains confidentiality of all electronic and printed patient information according to HIPM guidelines, the Privacy Act, and as stated in the Medical Center Memo on ADP Security. Attains proficiency in dealing with ethical issues related to professional nursing practice & behaves in an appropriate manner through observance of established policies of the unit, VA, and professional practice. Demonstrates a commitment to diversity principles by supporting the facility's Equal Employment Opportunities and Affirmative Action Programs. Demonstrates compliance with infection control practices, such as hand washing and wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment. Adheres to Safe Patient Handling practices for safe body mechanics, use of mechanical devices, and/or requests help when needed in moving, lifting, or turning patients to prevent injury to patient, self or others. Promptly reports all accidents to supervisor & notifies supervisor promptly of unsafe or unhealthy environmental situations/conditions. Corrects safety hazards promptly. Conserves resources effectively by using supplies & equipment in a responsible manner. Maintains current professional knowledge and skills based on current evidence-based practice & applies to practice and care of patients. Participates in unit based educational activities & continuing education opportunities to increase clinical and professional knowledge. Promotes wellness by empowering the patient to self-management through education & patient driven health care delivery. Collaborates and develops relationships both internally & externally to better meet the patient's needs. Follows policies, procedures & standards to promote evidence-based patient-driven care. Displays courtesy, empathy, tact, & respect for patients, families/significant others & hospital staff. Promotes personal and professional integrity in the workplace. Uses the proper chain of command for communication. Communicates the plan of care with the patient & discusses the patient's progress with other health care providers. Communicates effectively in a professional manner with co-workers. Collaborates with patients, families, health care practitioners, & health care leaders in policy and program development, implementation, & evaluation, as well as in the delivery of care. Identifies interventions that are effective & evidence based. Reviews & shares current literature in relation to practice with co-workers. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 56814A, 56815A, 56816A & 56817A 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. 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). 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]