The PACT Primary Care Clinics: Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) work under the direct supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs) and are part of the Patient Aligned Care Team with a focus on patient centered care delivery. The LPN is responsible for actively participating as part of a high functioning team in meeting PACT initiatives and outcomes for a panel of 1,200 patients.

Duties

The LPN interacts on a regular and recurring basis with patients, co-workers, physicians, families and visitors. All LPNs function as contributing members of the patient-centered team and strive to maintain tactful, respectful relationships with others. The LPN will function at the top of their license. The LPN is responsible for direct care; observing, recording and reporting changes in the patient's condition, as well as assisting in the development and revision of the patient-driven holistic life care plan. The LPN utilizes data bases, telephone contacts and delivers timely care. To prevent unnecessary visits to the ED, unscheduled visit to PCP, and acute care admissions, the LPN demonstrates active collaboration, communication and problem solving with Core Team (Patient, Primary Care Provider, RN Care Manager and Clerk) and Expanded Team (family/caregiver, internal and community based services involved in providing care to the patient). The LPN reports to the Nurse Manager, Chief Nurse/ Ambulatory Care and Associate Director of Patient Care / Nursing Services. Preferred experience: 1) Minimum of two (2) years of nursing experience in preventive health management in a clinical setting preferred, with a record of being self directed, autonomous in practice with demonstrated leadership skills. Professional, nonjudgmental, assertive personality. 2) Two years of excellent time and attendance 3) Documented high level of performance, solving issues at the lowest level. 4) Demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to change 5) Good organizational and problem solving skills 6) Demonstrates evidence of the ability to work efficiently in collaborative and collegial relationship with other health care professionals, families and veterans to promote the continuum of quality care. Ability to exercise good judgmental work independently with minimal supervision 7) Must possess a strong core knowledge base in nursing and has expanded clinical knowledge in med/surgical nursing. He/she is responsible for the provision of high quality, customer-focused, and cost effective patient care as it relates to their role. 8) The PACT- LPN functions as a patient advocate that consistently acts as a human link between the patients and hospital services by maximizing patient outcomes through the episode of care. 9) The PACT LPN is engaged in the ongoing systematic evaluation and improvement of the quality and effectiveness of patient care and patient outcomes. The incumbent provides leadership to initiate and improve nursing staff clinical performance to peers and new staff in orientation. 10) The incumbent teaches, models, and guides staff to assist their compliance with external standards, such as the Joint Commission; and internal standards, such as the Clinical Practice Guidelines and the VA Performance Measures for preventive health and chronic disease management. 11) Demonstrates strong interpersonal communication, teaching, written and verbal communication skills with all levels of health professional, administrative and technical staff and patients. 12) The PACT -LPN may provide direct patient care including evaluating, planning, health promotion and preventive care in the medical care area as needed. For patients who are being case managed, the incumbent will assume a leadership role in facilitating the care of those patients by: Working with the PACT interdisciplinary team to develop a structured plan of care Coordinating hospital systems to facilitate treatment plan Enabling timely updating and revision of the plan of care by assuring that treatment plans are effectively communicated 13) Successful completion of a Performance Based Interview by the selection committee. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 07:30-4:00pm. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by 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. 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. Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency [or] the National League for Nursing [Accrediting Commission], 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006 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. English Language Proficiency. Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The GS-7 grade level is for select, complex LPN/LVN positions, as established by each health care facility. To be advanced, employees must meet all of the following standards, provided the standard is part of their assignment. NOTE: Determinations concerning placement of positions at this grade level shall take into consideration the skill mix and the availability of supervision in the work unit. Although these positions are under the supervision of an RN and/or MD/DO, employees in such settings successfully and consistently demonstrate the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision), as well as a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures. Such individuals may also serve as leaders or co-leaders in a nursing unit or for a specifically identified group of patients. (a) Completion of (minimum of 3 years of LPN experience) at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according 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. (e) 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. (f) 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. (g) 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. (h) 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G13, Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07 The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07. 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, kneeling, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. 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, and 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US
• Name: Robert Moran
• Phone: 3055757000
• Email: [email protected]