This Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) position is in Surgical services at the Boston VA Healthcare Systems located at the location. This position is a full-time at 40 hours per week.

Duties

The Podiatry Licensed Practical Nurse is a member of the Surgical Service Care Line; working autonomously providing leadership, case management and nursing activities for the preoperative patient without the need for direct supervision. The LPN will oversee the daily operation of the clinic's technical staff, reporting to the Chief of Podiatry as needed. The Podiatry LPN will be in a key position to maintain patient flow and intervene accordingly. In addition, the LPN will alternate in an off unit assignment to assist in the completion Performance Improvement Processes. The LPN must be knowledgeable and have the ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patient's condition; to use judgement in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments and to accurately recognize, report and record relevant patient information. 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. Attends meetings with the inter-disciplinary treatment team and contributes to the development and changes in the comprehensive treatment plans. Serves as an active member of the healthcare team with professional and supportive personnel. Demonstrates ability to vary the order/sequence of assigned procedures based on the knowledge of the patient's condition. Assumes responsibility for a designated unit in accordance with Joint Commission Standards and recommendations. Performs preliminary examination (foot exam) and prepares podiatric work-up (obtaining history, medication reconciliation, allergy assessment, vital signs). Assists with radiology, laboratory (including specimen handling and labeling), prosthetics, or other requests, as required. Communicates with patients via telephone encounters regarding pre-operative instructions, post-operative status and care, importance of follow-up, no-shows, travel arrangements, treatment plan, patient issues, etc. and documents telephone conversations with patients in the medical record. Assumes responsibility for performance improvement data collection for PODIATRY, reporting monthly on progress, trends and initiatives. Including such quality improvement activities, patient satisfaction and average length of time patient is seen in PODIATRY. Trainer of phlebotomy, EKG, bladder scanning, nail trimming, foot care and vital sign skills for floats or new employees, utilizing the clinics policies and procedures for training. Ensures proper set up of treatment room for treatment of patients at the start of the clinic day and proper breakdown of treatment room at end of the clinic day. Ensures proper cleanup and disposal of contaminated procedures. Knowledge of sterile technique, sterile tray set-up and breakdown, infection control and use universal precautions for self and patient protection at all times. Performs nail debridement, dressing changes, wound care, foot care, suture removal, cast removal and application, and other assigned duties under the direction of DPM. Triages the daily podiatry schedule. Participates in Prevention of Amputation in Veterans Everywhere (PAVE) program activities. Provides patient teaching and foot care education. Maintains patient flow and workflow in clinic setting. Requires some travel to Brockton campus. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm. Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 911010 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Incomplete applications will not be considered. This position is covered by a special rate. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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. 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. 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. 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. (1) 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 and the knowledge, skills and abilities at the grade 7 level. (2) GS-7 KSAs: (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 5005/3 Part II Appendix G13. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019.

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