This Licensed Practical Nurse (Geriatrics) position is in Geriatrics and Extended Care services at the VA Boston Healthcare System, located at the Brockton, MA campus location. This position is a full-time at 40 hours per week.

Duties

The LPN appropriately performs and documents all or part of the following duties in the Geriatrics Outpatient Clinic depending upon the scope and complexity of the practice and patient care need, but not limited to: a. Nursing Standing Orders by Protocol, Clinical Reminders with appropriate consults and alerts as indicated such as phone inquiries or MHV/Secure Messaging. b. Oxygen therapy, medication administration to include to include IV medication if certified and as applicable per policy and/or complex treatments such as wound care. c. Check expiration dates of meds and supplies. d. Delegated procedures and treatments. e. Documentation of care through appropriate process or mechanism such progress notes, clinical reminder, letters, or MHV/Secure Messaging. f. Assists with minor procedures, including obtaining and arranging necessary equipment, participating in time-outs, positioning patient, ensuring comfort and privacy. Monitors patient during the procedure. 1. Participates in the pre-planning of care such as through huddles and follow-up of visits as indicated and participating in the prioritization and coordination of patient care and team communication. 2. Makes observations and thoroughly documents care and the patient's response. Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or medical provider of changes in the patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention. 3. Demonstrates understanding of age- and population-specific characteristics that affect the health care needs of the Veteran. 4. Promptly recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations, seeks assistance and effectively intervenes as directed when appropriate. 5. Based on the patient's goals and needs, provides patient and family health education, to include self-management, prevention and wellness and may include approaches such as individual or Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) and Face-To-Face, Telephone or Video Care. 6. Interacts and communicates appropriately with patients and family members incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice. 7. Demonstrates professional behavior (i.e., respect, civility, ability to accept constructive criticism), effective communication and interpersonal skills. 8. Adheres to principles of infection control, safety, and universal precautions. 9. Incumbent possesses knowledge of proper handling and pre-cleaning of reusable medical equipment. 10. Demonstrates competence utilizing special equipment and screening tools needed to perform job duties. 11.Follows policy and procedures related to fire and disaster drills, safety and security measures. 12. Demonstrates initiative in assisting the interdisciplinary team. 13. Participates in performance improvement initiatives and strives to elevate the practice standards in the clinic such as through participation in team meetings and committees. 14. Assists patient-centered initiatives such as MyHealtheVet/Secure Messaging by educating, enrolling and authenticating patients. 15. Assists in the orientation and competency validation of students, peers, clerical staff or others as appropriate. 16. Maintains confidentiality of electronic, written, and/or verbal patient information. 17. Maintains a work environment that honors diversity. 18. Serves as a resource and advocate in the protection of patient and family rights. 19. Completes mandatory reviews, including motivational interviewing, in order to promote patient self-management toward individualized life plan of care. 20. Uses a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures to support patient-centered care in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner, using evidence-based principles. 21. Promotes patient and personnel safety (including checking working status of team equipment and supplies, etc.) 22. Participates in Joint Commission and other accreditation readiness when applicable. 23. Assistance with clinic administrative duties to facilitate patient care in a timely manner, including but not limited to scheduling and patient documentation as necessary. Preferred Experience: Experience with older Veterans, caregivers and VVC/Telehealth. Work Schedule: Days, Monday-Friday Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F04397 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by a special rate. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Requirements

Qualifications

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. Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Must be a graduate of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State accrediting agency and/or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing at the time the program was completed by the applicant. 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. Must possess a current, full and unrestricted registration as practical/vocational nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia. Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the LPN GS-6 Applicant must also address the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in their resume, CV, or supplemental document of their creation: (a) 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. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. (f) 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. (g) 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. (h) 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. (i) 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. (j) 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; Appendix G13 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 Veterans and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected Veterans and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, resident rooms, exam rooms, or inpatient wards. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to Veterans 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. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to travel.

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 VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Solymar Torres
• Email: [email protected]