Lead License Practical Nurse, PACT/Float

Full Job Description

The Lead Licensed Practical/Vocational assigned to the George E.

Whalen Primary Care Clinics and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics functions as a team lead under the supervision of the Clinic Nurse Manager, who will work under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN) that reports to the Nurse Manager.

The LEAD LPN/LVN is responsible for having the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in selected, more complex care settings.

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: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.

(Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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.

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.

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.

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 VA policy Physical Standards: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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). 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.

Grade Determinations: GS-7 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 Knowledge and skills necessary to care out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in 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/OD in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments and appropriately recording 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 health lifestyles for more positive 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.

Preferred Experience: 3 years LPN experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 and local LPN/LVN physical standards. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional 1.

Manages patient care problems and deviations using self-direction 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.

2. Measures, records, and reports vital signs, neurological signs, weight, and blood glucose levels.

Appropriately triages and prioritizes patient needs as routine, urgent, or emergent in the clinic setting and modifies patient care/treatment as needed. 3.

Checks patients into the clinic, interviews patient and/or significant other, and documents intake data as per policy.

Possesses comprehensive knowledge of VA protocols and VHA directives related to clinic management, documentation, and computer technology. 4.

Demonstrates knowledge, skill, and ability to promptly recognize and effectively intervene in potentially urgent or emergent situations.

Demonstrates the ability to independently adjust or modify care being delivered to meet the changing needs of the patient with notification to the RN or provider for concurrence.

Responsibilities include prompt recognition and treatment of urgent/emergent patient care needs, including hypo/hyperglycemia, acute shortness of breath, acute chest pain, seizures, stroke symptoms, mental health issues, etc.

5. Maintains and implements knowledge of anatomy and physiology as well as scientific principles underlying nursing care and procedures.

Provides high quality nursing care using traditional and non-traditional modalities, including triage prior to provider face-to-face visits, nurse health maintenance 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. 6.

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).

Performs venipuncture for blood draws, prepares specimens for transport and processing (centrifuge and serum separation), transcribes orders, accessions labels, and provides patient education about lab tests, 7.

Demonstrates knowledge of standard precautions, medical asepsis, and sterile technique with the ability to correctly apply these principles and techniques and assist others with implementation in the clinic setting.

Assists with diagnostic procedures that include preparing the patient, setting up sterile field and instrumentation, and monitoring the patient's condition. 8.

Demonstrates the knowledge and skill to interpret common test results and other medical data. Provides education to patients/families about preparation for procedures and/or diagnostic tests. 9.

Takes an active role in health promotion and disease prevention to improve patient outcomes. Provides one-on one or group teaching as appropriate.

Demonstrates knowledge and skill to incorporate patient education into care and modifies as necessary.

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 7:30-4;00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 58648-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized