The Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN) is a position that is essential for the care delivery of patients at the Lexington Park Community Based Outpatient Clinic. This position is assigned to direct-care nursing care areas in one of the numerous ambulatory clinics which service the patients who receive their care in the organization.

Duties

The Patient Aligned Care Team Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) assumes the role in direct and indirect care providing complex/specialized patient-centered care to a panel of patients. The incumbent collaborates through the coordination of care with physicians, nurse practitioners, medical residents/students, other health professional and hospital systems. Major Duties/Functions include, but not limited to: Assists with patient care problems and deviations in accordance with VA Nursing Practice and LPN licensure standards. Maintains knowledge and skill to care for a wide range of patients, including those with chronic and acute illness. Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of disease conditions, nursing principles, and standards/practices to coordinate nursing care required in the clinic setting and alter the sequence and/or care delivered to meet individual patient's needs. Triages, records, and reports vital signs, weight, and blood glucose levels. Appropriately prioritizes patient needs as routine, urgent, or emergent in the clinical setting and contributes to the Veteran's patient care/treatment as needed. Possesses comprehensive knowledge of VA protocols and VHA directives related to clinic management, documentation, and computer technology. Demonstrates knowledge, skill, and ability to promptly recognize and effectively intervene in potentially urgent or emergent situations. Completes Clinical Reminders to meet the changing needs of the patient with notification to the RN or provider for concurrence. Recognition of urgent/emergent patient care needs, including hypo/hyperglycemia, acute shortness of breath, acute chest pain, seizures, stroke symptoms, mental health issues, etc. Triages prior to provider face-to-face visits, nurse visits, telephone triage, secure messaging, etc. Applies knowledge by considering the interrelationship between age, physical, emotional, social, cultural, and population-specific needs when providing care. Serves as a resource for complex/specialized procedures (i.e., non-complex suture/staple removal, non-complex wound care, blood draws, and clinic specific procedures, such as ear irrigation). Assists with diagnostic procedures that include preparing the patient, setting up sterile field and instrumentation, and monitoring the patient's condition. Takes an active role in health promotion and disease prevention to improve patient outcomes. Contributes to the interdisciplinary PACT team in development, implementation, and evaluation of the treatment plan to promote patient participation and foster patient self-management. Assist with education of patients and family's principles of health, self-care, and treatments related to wellness and health promotion. Communicates calmly, courteously, and professionally with all patients, personnel, and visitors while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations and Medical Center policies. Collaborates with the PACT team and other interdisciplinary services in the development, implementation, and evaluation of patient care. Demonstrates knowledge and adherence to identified standards of care/practice for a variety of medical diagnoses. Promotes holistic care and optimize clinic efficiency. Assists other staff to improve and advance their practical nursing practice as appropriate. Serves as a resource person for frequently used equipment in the clinic setting and utilizes appropriate protocol for equipment repair and maintenance. Active participant in quality improvement projects/hospital committees to promote evidence- based practice and performance improvement in the clinic setting. Champion's equipment management (work orders/PM/etc.) Provides in-services for equipment (A1C/Glucometer/EKG/Bladder Scan/etc.). Assists in coordination of care during and after the transition of a patient from inpatient to outpatient and vice versa. Completes screenings, completes nursing clinical reminders thoroughly and accurately per due dates and clinical appropriateness, including Tobacco Use, Pain Screening, Frail/Elderly Screening, etc. Huddles with PACT team to discuss consults such as Home Tele-Health, audiology, optometry/ophthalmology, prosthetics, patient education, Home Based Primary Care, etc. Collaborates with PACT team to identify and proactively manage high-risk patients through frequent telephone contacts and/or face-to-face visits using the nurse health maintenance clinic. Completes closure of patient encounters in a timely manner (within 24 hours of patient visit). Implements an individual improvement plan that addresses goals, and actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30pm (Weekend Shifts may be required) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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. 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 stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. GS-03 None beyond the basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved. GS-04 (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or(b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) and one year of experience that involved nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures; or (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. GS-05 Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Ability to serve as a responsible member of a nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professional and/or other support personnel involved in the delivery of patient care. Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous medications. This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting noted changes in the patient's condition. Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardia and/or pulmonary arrest. Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies. GS-06 Proficiency in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations. Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions, using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments, and accurately recognizing, reporting, and recording relevant patient information. Ability to observe, identify, and response to a patient's needs for care including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education. Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for, documents, and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments. Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directed. Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations and the ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members and other staff. Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which includes preparing the patient and assisting in the diagnostic examination, preparing, and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment, and monitoring the patient's condition before, during, and following the procedure. Preferred Experience and Certifications 2-3 years of LPM experience Prior Ambulatory Care Experience

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/.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

NOTE: Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who were converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986 are considered to have met the Education requirement. The waiver does not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions.

Contacts

• Address Washington VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20422 US
• Name: Chelsea Montgomery
• Phone: 352-214-8560
• Email: [email protected]