The Licensed Practical Nurse GS-6 provides safe, timely and individualized nursing care to patients in the Ambulatory Care setting. He/she is able to interact / collaborate effectively with patients, families, other health care and supportive personnel. He/she can initiate appropriate actions based on his/her observations of the patient's condition. Demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with various physical and/or behavioral problems.

Duties

The LPN/LVN demonstrates ability to serve as a responsible member of the Ambulatory Care team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professionals and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care. Knowledge and skill enough to accurately complete prescribed medications and treatments and appropriately document observations and patient's response to treatments. He/she requires minimum guidance and supervision by the responsible Registered Nurse or Provider. PATIENT CARE / AMBULATORY CARE: Demonstrates knowledge and skills to carry out a full range of practical nursing care and specialized patient care duties to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems in the outpatient setting. Assists with patient education and patient groups regarding medications and disease management. Re-enforces all instructions previously given to patients by the MD/PA/NP/RN. Demonstrated ability to manage telephone care to include disease management, medication management, lab and radiology results and other telephone communication. Demonstrates ability to effectively manage patient flow to maintain timeliness of appointments. Utilizes nursing protocols with attention to the individuality of patients, patient safety and evidence-based practice. Assists in care coordination and access to specialty care through communication and placing consult per nursing protocols. Demonstrates competence in handling of all RME for patient care use and cleaning post procedure. Adheres to all departmental policies and procedures for reprocessing RME. Demonstrates working practices that include adherence to Infection Control standards and the safe use and operation of equipment. Maintains knowledge of medical equipment with skill sufficient to set-up, operate and maintain functioning. Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunctions or loss of equipment, supply deficiencies and fire, safety or environmental hazards. Promptly reports to appropriate personnel for corrective action including the submission of a work order. Demonstrates knowledge of universal precautions, medical asepsis and sterile technique with ability to correctly apply these principles and techniques to a variety of patient care situations and to assist others to do so. Utilizes PPE appropriately. Prevents injury to self and others by complying with safe patient handling and moving procedures and uses proper body mechanics and transfer techniques. Participates in work groups, teams and/or committees and supports QM/QI activities and organizational goals. Assists with data collection and implementation of changes in process to improve patient care. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework: Not Available Travel: Not required Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. The LPN/LVN will work within the Ambulatory/Primary Care PACT Clinics depending on their job assignment. Maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) and meeting of qualifications as noted below is required. 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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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. 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 OR granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVN. Licensure - Active, full, current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), of the United States or the District of Columbia. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, 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. GS-03 None beyond the basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved. GS-04 (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or(b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) and one year of experience that involved nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures; or (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. GS-05 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 serve as a responsible member of a nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professional and/or other support personnel involved in the delivery of patient care. Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous medications. This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting noted changes in the patient's condition. Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardia and/or pulmonary arrest. Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies. GS-06 Proficiency 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 patients' conditions, using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments, and accurately recognizing, reporting, and recording relevant patient information. Ability to observe, identify, and response to a patient's needs for care including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education. Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for, documents, and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments. Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directed. Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations and the ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members and other staff. Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which includes preparing the patient and 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. Preferred Experience and Certifications Primary Care, Ambulatory Care and/or Outpatient experience Basic Life Support (BLS)

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/.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-13 Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

NOTE: Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who were converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986 are considered to have met the Education requirement. The waiver does not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions.

Contacts

• Address WG Bill Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center 1601 Brenner Avenue Salisbury, NC 28144 US
• Name: Kimberly Gray
• Phone: (980) 401-2549
• Email: [email protected]