Licensed Practical Nurse – PACT

Summary The Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN) is a position that is essential for the care delivery of patients at the Fort Belvoir, Virginia 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. Responsibilities VA Careers – Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Licensed Practical Nurse – vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-LPN-Career-Flyer.pdf 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. 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 Veterans patient care/treatment as needed. 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). 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 familys 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. 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. Champions 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. 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. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm 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 existing pay, 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 #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination/evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. 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. 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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Proficient in both spoken and written English. 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). Preferred Experience: Two years of PACT experience preferred. Grade Determination: GS-6: a) 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. Examples of duties at the GS-5 include, but are not limited to: 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/L VNs 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 patients response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patients 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. And b) Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations; c) 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. d) Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patients 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: e) 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 patients condition from prescribed medications/treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO. f) 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. g) 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; h) 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; i) 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 patients 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. Physical Requirements: Work will require long periods of regular and recurring standing and walking (8 hours) with regular and recurring heavy lifting (35 lbs. and over) and positioning of patients while maintaining balance. Must be able to bend, stoop, squat, kneel, move body and extremities quickly, push and pull equipment, carry equipment and supplies (heavy 35 lbs. and over) without personal limitations or physical restrictions. Protracted periods of sitting with an assigned patient may be required. Physical endurance and physical tolerance are required for an 8-hour shift as assigned. These are essential functions of the position. The employee is alert to the possibility of patient assaultiveness and may need to protect herself/himself using non-abusive physical intervention techniques. The incumbent must have full range of motion of each joint. He/she must be able to grasp, maintain balance, and lower a patient safely to the floor unassisted while physically controlling a violent patient. They must have fine motor skills. Must be emotionally and mentally stable. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is G-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-6 to GS-6. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.