He/she serves as a leader in the Clinical Video Teleconferencing (CVT) Program and oversees the performance of staff at the parent facility and its associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

Duties

SCOPE OF ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITIES: Patient Care: The LPN serves as the care coordinator, monitoring weekly appointments and staffing, LPN alerts Nurse Manager (or designee) when conflicts arise. The LPN successfully and consistently demonstrates exercise of independent technical judgment as well as comprehensive and through working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures. The incumbent is assigned the duty of patient care by conducting specific observations and examination procedures, generating clinical documentation, and performing diagnostic and therapeutic tasks according to the criteria established by the supervisor and local Medical Center policy. The LPN demonstrates nursing practice with supervision of an RN or provider. Demonstrates the ability to assist the RN and/or provider 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 higher-level intervention and/or modification of the patient's care plan. At this grade level, the LPN TCT is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing, and as appropriate, modifying patient care treatment. The LPN administers medication accurately under the supervision of an RN. Demonstrates understanding of the effects and/or reactions caused by medications, treatments, and procedures. Records and reports these observations. The LPN TCT demonstrates the independent technical knowledge and skills that are complex in nature and that contribute to the Veteran's treatment plan and support the successful completion of the Telehealth visit. 5. The LPN TCT performs Telehealth imaging, including Teleretinal screening, teledermatology, and other Telehealth programming as technology becomes available, as identified and referred by the primary care provider, who retains responsibility for patient care. The LPN TCT will provide patient education regarding the imaging process. 6. The LPN TCT is responsible for the patient side facilitation of the clinical, business, scheduling, and technical aspects for real time Telehealth applications, including, but not limited to CVT specialty care, CVT, SCI, CVT Primary Care as well as any other clinics for other programs that become available. 7. Uses video conferencing technologies. Uses Telehealth technology and scheduling software to coordinate and connect staff, resources, patients, and providers in the manner effective to the delivery of services, patient care, education, and training. 8. The LPN TCT Preceptor orients, trains, and monitors the telehealth staff and providers located at the main facility, CBOCs. The LPN TCT Preceptor provides training and Telehealth competency for providers at other sites within the VA system. Serves as resource, role model, and mentor to staff effectively guiding and/or directing their continuing telehealth CVT practice. Any deviations from normal practice are promptly addressed. 9. Participates in orientation and training of new staff members to policy and procedures and work methodologies of the Telehealth program. 10. Records and accurately documents patient information such as patient's physical condition, emotional response, and results of procedures. Makes sure that the preventive health information is updated appropriately. Notes changes in a patient's condition which warrants notification of a physician prior to appointment times. Informs members of the patient's primary care team of cultural preferences, religious preferences and changes that have occurred with aging. 11. Identifies the patient for specialty provider. Stays in the room with the patient if this is part of the clinic protocol or as the patient requests. Provides hands on care as part of the encounter with the specialist if needed. 12. Facilitates a complimentary working relationship with members of the Telehealth team, assuming the liaison role when the health care provider raises questions regarding eligibility, clinic appointment availability, and procedure scheduling. 13. Administers the patient's satisfaction survey. 14. May be utilized to complete EKGs as needed. 15. Provides ideal customer service to all Veterans and has a major impact on the overall success of - clinic operations as a whole. 16. Secures patient's confidence and cooperation during procedures. Explains procedures, positions patients for desired results, and cushions and shields patients as appropriate. Varies procedure or position to adjust to patients' medical condition. 17. Sets equipment parameters based on the patient's diagnosis or specific and/or individualized testing criteria. Other Duties Assigned

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. 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. Exception: 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. (Transcripts required with your application) License: 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. (Copy of your license is required with your application) 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). GS-7 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Must have completed at least (1) one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, and fully meets all performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN and demonstrates the following: - 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. - 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. - Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and patient's response 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. - 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. - 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. - 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 materials/media. Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice. - 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. - Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery. Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO. In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level, the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff. - Work of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervision. Individuals in these positions are, to a considerable extent, expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles, art and science of practical nursing. The staff mix is such that employees at this grade level are expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under very general supervision. - Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice. References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13, Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.

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 Oscar G Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 325 East H Street Iron Mountain, MI 49801 US
• Name: Kevin Estrada
• Phone: 319-338-0581 X636728
• Email: [email protected]