Licensed Practical Nurse - Ambulatory Surgery Center

Full Job Description

This Licensed Practical Nurse - Interventional Pain Procedure position is within the Ambulatory Surgery Center at VAMC Lebanon, PA 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.

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.

License: 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.

English Language Proficiency. Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C.

7402(d), and 7407(d).

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).

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: (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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge and skills necessary to care out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings.

Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery making astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes (both physical and emotional) in patient's conditions and taking the appropriate action.

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.

Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations.

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.

Skill, creativity, and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels.

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.

Ability to support the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery Preferred Experience: 2 years of pain procedure or working with a sterile field Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5005, Part III, Chapter 2, paragraph 7, and VA Handbook 5019, Occupational Health Services.

All applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position.

Must be able to lift (30 lbs or more); twisting and/or bending, standing and/or walking almost constantly during the course of the day.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS7.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS7.

Physical Requirements: The population of male and female Veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over.

This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.

This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required.

The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures.

The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Major Duties:

The License Practical Nurse 7 functions independently as the charge nurse for the care provided to an outpatient team of Veterans by other licensed and non-licensed nursing personnel in the Pain Procedure Clinic.

Cross train to cover ASU as needed due to staffing. Monitors schedules and consults and discuss issues with administrative and clerical staff when challenges to flow of the clinic arise.

Functions in pre-op, as staffing needs, interviewing patients, performing screenings and general systems appraisals of a patient's condition, collecting objective and subjective data, and assisting the RN and surgical/medical providers with care management.

Collaborates with the RN in respect to developing and implementing an individualized treatment plan.

Evaluates and observes patient's level of acuity and reports changes to the RN, provider, assistant NM, or NM.

Coordinates with all levels of staff regarding appropriate sequence of procedures and care.

Modifies the patient's plan of care in accordance with recognized nursing standards and prescribed treatment Coordinate care between multiple providers within Lebanon VA Medical Center and the community.

Assigns care to the most appropriate level of skill required for the tasks/duties. Determines priority of care needs and communicates to LPN expectations of care.

Possesses the knowledge and skills to carry out more specialized patient care activities, such as spinal pain injections.

This knowledge base also includes the use of veteran care data to initiate active contributions to the veteran's overall health plan.

Observations of the veteran's present status are made and interventions implemented to improve, restore, or maintain the optimal function of the veteran.

Has knowledge of program/specialty area's regulations and is able to carry out objectives of the Nursing department. In doing this, follows the guidelines to meet and maintain program requirements.

Will serve as technical/clinical resource prior to and during accrediting body survey activities.

Prepares and administers prescribed medications and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures.

The LPN/LVN observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's health condition, and promptly and accurately reports identified changes/deviations to an RN or provider, and documents identified changes.

VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 To Rewards: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0700-1530 or 0730-1600 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.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized