The incumbent performs a variety of supportive, nursing and medical tasks necessary to the care of patients during diagnostic and therapeutic visits to any ECHCS VA Primary Care Clinic location. The Licensed Practical Nurse's (LPN) practice is modeled on the standards established within the VHA model for Patient Aligned Care Teams.

Duties

Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: GS-7 - LPNs at the GS-7 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-6 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. The LPN GS-7 will also assist NM with daily clinic flow, schedule management oversight, EOC compliance, EARR compliance, equipment management, EIL, process improvement activities, VISTA key and menu review, and other clinic operation duties. The LPN 7 applies concentrated effort and direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing assignments, including primary care with collaboration with other disciplines and specialties outside of PACT including non-VA care, specialties, surgical services, prosthetics, nutrition, hospice, and palliative care. The staff mix is such that the employee at this grade is expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under general supervision. -Assignments at this level will consistently demonstrate the execution of independent technical judgment, without the need for readily available supervision, as well as comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures within the scope of practice. The LPN GS7 may be asked to serve in all practical nursing patient care areas with general RN, MD, and PA/NP supervision. -Technically proficient in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations including specific protocols for independently ordering labs, consults, and other orders specific to the LPN 7 role -Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, participating in workgroups and sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice. -Functions as a team leader for other practical nurses and non-licensed staff. -Collaborates with Nurse Manager to manage daily flow of PACTs, assure daily staff schedule is updated, and appointment management for PACTs is completed daily. Assist NM to develop mechanisms to continuously improve performance in the efficiency, utilization, productivity, and effectiveness of clinic operation - Supports the RN or MD/DO/NP/PA in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery. - Assists Clinic/NM with Schedule Management Oversight Responsibilities: Collaborates with Clinic/NM to develop processes to ensure provider clinic profiles are coordinated for each provider & reviewed before scheduling; ensuring profiles have adequate appointments for scheduling. Collaborates with Clinic/NM to manage clinic cancellations, alerting schedulers of clinic cancellations immediately and reviewing appointments with providers to ensure patient safety and notification as soon as possible. - Assists Clinic/NM with: Equipment management to include requests for new and/or replacement equipment, inventory list (EIL), ensuring equipment is available and operational, investigating requesting, and implementing processes, resources, equipment/supplies to increase efficiency, patient safety and/or quality of care. - Collaborates with and works in tandem with Clinic/NM to assess need for quality improvement efforts to: - Review access improvement initiatives and scheduling operations to make timely adjustments meeting clinic business objectives. This includes starting appointments on time, efficient patient journeys at and between each step through the clinic and facility and optimal use of resources including rooms and equipment. Monitor and analyze and continually improve patient access BETWEEN appointments and services for primary and specialty care. Assuring a sound process/policy for walk-in or urgent appointments. Establish and reinforce the standard of nursing procedures and processes and reinforce prepared standard protocols for patient care. Check the inventory regularly and keep stock up to date and ensure EOC checklists are completed Additionally, must: 1) Be proficient and demonstrate competency to either set up or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment as applicable for all equipment for which you have been trained; 2) 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 VHA 1101.10(1), implements, and documents education provided to patients and families. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54605-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No 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. 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. 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. 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. Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. GS-07: The GS-07 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. Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-06 level or equivalent, fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-06 LPN/LVN. The following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) must be met: Knowledge and skills necessary to care out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings. Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery making astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes (both physical and emotional) in patient's conditions and taking the appropriate action. Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/OD in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments and appropriately recording patient's response to medications/treatments received. Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations. Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting health lifestyles for more positive 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. Skill, creativity, and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels. 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. Ability to support the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery. Preferred Experience: One year PACT LPN experience 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. Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. 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.

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: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]