This position is eligible for EDRP You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Contact [email protected] for questions/assistance.

Duties

General Duties: The LPN/LVN is responsible for upholding the philosophy and objectives of the Nursing Service. The LPN is accountable for adhering to established policies, procedures, standards of care and standards of practice, and for maintaining competencies consistent with roles and responsibilities. 1. Provide care in a safe and cost-effective manner. He/she will follow all policies/procedures pertaining to own personal safety including the use of standard precautions. The LPN will maintain a safe environment using appropriate equipment, devices, and safety measures for all patients with demonstrated special awareness of the needs of psychiatric patients and patients with impaired cognitive functioning and mobility. 2. Contribute to the evaluation of Fall Risk patients, perform validated evaluations of cognitive function and administer instruments to document symptom presence and severity; assist patients to cope with and/or compensate for changes affecting cognition, mobility and balance. (Examples of tools include the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and The Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale) 3. Implement care for more complex/specialized patient care duties based on broader knowledge and skills with less direct supervision. 4. Incorporate current patient care data by actively contributing to the development and modification of treatment plans. Assist all health care team members with patient care needs and adjust treatment plan accordingly. 5. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of precepting/mentoring, effective communication techniques, facilitating therapeutic groups and participation. He/she will take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles to increase positive patient outcomes. He/she will provide one-on-one patient education as appropriate. The LPN GS 7 will communicate calmly, courteously, and tactfully with all patients, personnel, and visitors maintaining confidentiality in accordance with HIPPA regulations and medical center policies. He/she will utilize advanced skills to communicate effectively with verbally or physically abusive patients or visitors. 6. Demonstrate broad knowledge and skill with respect to medications, contraindications, actions, and recognition of the subtle signs and symptoms of potential actual drug reactions, and demonstrate the ability to proactively assist the provider in managing the patient's medications/treatments. He/she will promptly recognize potential or actual drug reactions, promptly informing the provider of observed changes in patient condition and initiating appropriate, prescribed intervention with safe and therapeutic patient care delivery. 7. Perform capillary glucose testing, evaluate glucose results, and act accordingly. When indicated, perform phlebotomy during clinic appointments for patients unable to access the outpatient laboratory. 8. Interpret mental and physical changes based on theoretical and practical understanding of psychology, anatomy, and physiology. Address patient suicidal ideation as indicated, using appropriate screening tool and referring to provider. He/she will cope quickly and decisively with emergency situations or unpredictable behavior. 9. Contribute to the evaluation of pain/comfort status consistently using the scale of 1-10 scale and implements interventions to keep discomfort below a rating of 3; if pain is not relieved seeks provider for further intervention. 10. Promote the values of cultural transformation and Veteran Centered. He/she actively seeks Veteran choice in care plan participation and goal participation. 11. Identify and encourage participation in psychiatric therapeutic care to promote achieving shared goals and improved outcomes. 12. Demonstrate knowledge of medical equipment and supplies with advanced skill to set up and/or operate specialized equipment. 13. Demonstrate ability to promote teamwork consistently and foster cohesiveness among team members in order to successfully complete individual, team, and unit level assignments. Work Schedule: M-F 0730-1600 or 0800-1630 Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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. 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). 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. [Additional information may also be obtained from the NLNAC Website. Exceptions include:] (1) 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. (2) [ ] VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986; and for their future personnel actions under this authority. The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions. [(3) Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school. See paragraph 4, section C.] 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. An LPN[/LVN] who has or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part. 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). Grade Determinations: GS 7 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. (a) Completion of 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 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. (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 materials/media Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice. (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. Preferred Experience: n/a Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. Exceptions: A pre-placement examination is required for any occupation or assignment that requires the operation of a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties. Examinations may also be required for any occupation or assignment that requires a pre-placement examination by virtue of another policy, regulation, or statute

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 Portland Health Care System 3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road Portland, OR 97239 US
• Name: Trevor Potter
• Phone: (503) 220-8262 X53044
• Email: [email protected]