Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurse

Full Job Description

This Licensed Vocational Nurse position is within the Community Care Service at the Michael E. DeBakey Medical Center in Houston, Texas.

The vocational nurse will be responsible for reviewing, interprets and determines Veterans' eligibility for specialty programs in the Office of Integrated Veteran Care (OIVC) department and process their authorizations.

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.

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.

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. The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C.

7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions. Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school. 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 provisions.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated in section A, 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-3: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4: Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria below: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or Graduation from an approved school 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 Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.

GS-5: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent.

Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.

Works with the RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery.

Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and /or prescribed treatment regimes.

Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professional and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice.

Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures.

Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to RN or MD/DO.

Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated, promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest.

Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.

Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO. Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures.

However, completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review.

GS-6: Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN.

Technically proficient 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; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; and to accurately recognize, report and record relevant] patient information.

Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures.

Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care and patient/family education.

In organizing and delivering care, the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors.

Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures.

Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition 4 from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.

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 understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations, and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members, and other staff.

Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills.

Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery.

Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members, and/or other internal/external customers.

Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which include preparing the patient, 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.

Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex, specialized tests/procedures.

Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.

Qualifications continued in Education Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include (but are not limited to): Reviews medical records and generates authorizations based upon the OIVC field guidebook for for the Michael E.

DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC), and for making eligibility determinations for the various programs based upon Mission Act criteria.

Works closely with OIVC PACT team model to ensure proper medical/payment authorizations are issued and appropriate correspondence is sent to vendors.

Updates, monitors, and tracks all authorized OIVC services in the various platforms such as CPRS, VISTA, CTM, HRSM, VHIE, JLV, My Healthy Vet, Refdoc, Excell, and etc.

The incumbent reviews and determines veteran's eligibility for specialty programs in the OIVC programs and appropriately processes their documentation packets.

He/she discusses eligibility for programs or specific claims with vendors, veterans, and/or service officers.

Must have thorough knowledge of program eligibility and must be able to apply regulations to each individual veteran.

Receive phone calls, requests, questions and complaints and initiates resolution actions. Handles issues and questions presented by Veterans, vendors, and other authorized agents.

Maintain contact with all internal and external stakeholders involved in care coordination.

Immediately notifies supervisor/team lead of any problems related to authorizations for OIVC, vendors, documentation or any other situation that may have a negative impact on delivery of services to Veterans.

Performs work of a general, office support nature which encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities and performs administrative and/or clerical procedures to support a variety of office functions.

Performs program support functions for one or more agency programs and provides general program support work, such as the collection, completion, research, and/or tracking of data and program information.

Reviews documents and reports in accordance with established procedures, i.e. for completeness and enters pertinent information into an automated tracking system.

Independently engages in initiating data collection skills such as interviewing and use of nursing patient data base forms.

Engages in patient-family teaching including, but not limited to: Simple instructions about treatment regime.

Orientation and explanations about medications and instructions about complex/invasive procedures.

Assists patients to identify goals for recovery and motivates patients toward compliance with treatment program/plans.

Implements correct patient and family teaching plans concerning medications as evidenced by documentation in the patient's medical record.

Records and reports according to MEDVAMC policy, pertinent clinical observations to the appropriate supervisor including but not limited to: Changes in patient's psycho-physiological signs and symptoms.

Patient responses to treatment interventions. Records patient's problem, nursing intervention and evaluation of patient's response.

Protects printed, electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, Federal regulations, VA statutes and policy and VHA Policy.

Follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes as set out in the Information Security Policy Handbook.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. 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 available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 02238F, 01987F, 02239F, 02240F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized