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

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. -May be required to travel for orientation/ educational offerings -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. -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. -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. -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. Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO/NP/PA. 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. - 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. Collaborates with Clinic/NM to ensure appropriate surrogate coverage is provided during emergency provider leave/absence. Monitor clinic grids for scheduling to ensure alignment with scheduling guidelines - 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. Collaborating with ancillary departments to ensure proper and safe function of equipment, supplies and facility grounds. Ensure maintenance of infection control compliance, to include coordination/monitoring of Hand Hygiene observation requirements. Accustaff entry and timekeeping - Review access improvement initiatives and scheduling operations to make timely adjustments meeting clinic business objectives. Provide regular feedback on clinic operations when appropriate. Analyze, distribute and/or recommend optimal facility clinic resources. This includes starting appointments on time, efficient patient journeys at and between each step through the clinic and facility (check-in, rooming, check-out, etc.), and optimal use of resources including rooms and equipment. Applying basic access principles, including supply matched to projected demand, immediate engagement, patient preference, surge contingencies, and continuous assessment. Work Schedule: Variable Compressed/Flexible:Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54605-O Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. 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 for employment, the following criteria must be met for the GS-7 grade: 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. Qualifying experience includes the ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care; Preparing and administering prescribed medications and performing treatments according to established policies/procedures; Observing for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments; Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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, Part II, Appendix G-13 Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. Preferred Experience: Outpatient Primary Care or Specialty Care, minimum 1year. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and 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 Eastern Colorado Health Care System 1700 N Wheeling St Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]