Blind Rehabilitation Center Licensed Practical Nurse

The mission

The mission of the BRC is to assist Veterans and service members who are blind - have low vision adjust to their sight loss; to help them learn skills and alternate techniques that will reduce their overall risk - improve their quality of life - enable them to reach their maximum level of independence; and most importantly - to help them develop positive attitudes - self-esteem and a renewed sense of self-worth.

Interdisciplinary Approaches

The BRC utilizes and interdisciplinary approaches a dynamic array of programs - activities - and services in a safe homelike environment that is conducive to learning and health promotion.

Responsibilities

• Respond to Veteran calls for assistance and address patient needs in a timely manner
• Ensure proper identification of Veteran per policy before administering care
• Willingly assist co-workers without being asked and work well as a team member
• Participate in change of shift by communicating all pertinent Veteran information to Team Leader - Charge Nurse or receiving shift
• Absorb and complete duties as assigned and under the supervision of the registered nurse
• Give bed bath - tub and shower baths - shampoo hair - trim nails and assist residents with grooming
• Provide and assist in oral hygiene and denture care
• Change linen of occupied and unoccupied beds
• Assist Veterans with bedpans and urinals
• Feed Veterans and assist those who need help with eating
• Change Veterans' position - maintain body alignment and take measures to prevent skin breakdown and/or deformity
• Apply and observe comfort and safety devices as directed by the registered nurse
• Practice safety precautions according to written procedure in performance of duties when working with Veterans and Veteran's personal care devices - medication administration and unit equipment
• Safely operate equipment such as specialized beds - prosthetic devices - and suction machines
• Utilize proper body mechanics - mechanical lifting devices and transfer aids when lifting and moving Veterans to prevent injury to self and others
• Assist in maintaining a clean and orderly unit environment
• Keep supplies and equipment clean and in proper places - observe infection control guidelines - etc
• Take personal accountability in reducing Veteran's risk of trips and falls by taking quick and immediate action to correct any environmental safety concerns
• Understand and utilize principles of Universal Precautions and type of isolation for protection of Veterans and/or self
• Report faulty equipment or safety hazards
• Be knowledgeable and correctly utilizes the RACE procedure during fire drills and emergency situations
• Verbalize the steps within the RACE procedure and his/her responsibility
• Verbalize role of unit/staff in a disaster including recognition of disaster alarms/notification per policy
• Recognizing alternate power sources and mechanism to use on the event of utility system failure
• Be knowledgeable regarding location of MSDS for all hazardous chemicals used within the assigned area and take appropriate action as needed to mitigate situation
• Document medications administered - care and treatments provided and Veteran's response to therapy in the clinical record
• Document on flow sheets - Reports of Contact - and Incident Reports as appropriate
• Recognize and report acute changes in Veteran conditions to the registered nurse (R.N.) and documents observations appropriately
• Maintain rapport with Veterans - families - volunteers - visitors - and coworkers
• Accurately document measurements such as vital signs - weights - and finger sticks for glucose monitoring - intake and output
• Provide input into the formulation of the nursing care plan
• Provide for Veterans' physical and psychosocial needs
• Assist with diagnostic procedures such as physical exams - using sterile technique as appropriate - if applicable to assigned unit
• Collect and label specimens for laboratory study such as urine - sputum - and stool
• Administer oxygen and inhalation therapy as ordered
• Accurately obtain and document measurements and pulse oximetry to include documentation of oxygen flow rate/room air and route
• Work in area with service dogs

Physical Requirements

This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling

Duties

• Respond to Veteran calls for assistance and address patient needs in a timely manner
• Ensure proper identification of Veteran per policy before administering care
• Willingly assist co-workers without being asked and work well as a team member
• Participate in change of shift by communicating all pertinent Veteran information to Team Leader - Charge Nurse or receiving shift
• Absorb and complete duties as assigned and under the supervision of the registered nurse
• Give bed bath - tub and shower baths - shampoo hair - trim nails and assist residents with grooming
• Provide and assist in oral hygiene and denture care
• Change linen of occupied and unoccupied beds
• Assist Veterans with bedpans and urinals
• Feed Veterans and assist those who need help with eating
• Change Veterans' position - maintain body alignment and take measures to prevent skin breakdown and/or deformity
• Apply and observe comfort and safety devices as directed by the registered nurse
• Practice safety precautions according to written procedure in performance of duties when working with Veterans and Veteran's personal care devices - medication administration and unit equipment
• Safely operate equipment such as specialized beds - prosthetic devices - and suction machines
• Utilize proper body mechanics - mechanical lifting devices and transfer aids when lifting and moving Veterans to prevent injury to self and others
• Assist in maintaining a clean and orderly unit environment
• Keep supplies and equipment clean and in proper places - observe infection control guidelines - etc
• Take personal accountability in reducing Veteran's risk of trips and falls by taking quick and immediate action to correct any environmental safety concerns
• Understand and utilize principles of Universal Precautions and type of isolation for protection of Veterans and/or self
• Report faulty equipment or safety hazards
• Be knowledgeable and correctly utilizes the RACE procedure during fire drills and emergency situations
• Verbalize the steps within the RACE procedure and his/her responsibility
• Verbalize role of unit/staff in a disaster including recognition of disaster alarms/notification per policy
• Recognizing alternate power sources and mechanism to use on the event of utility system failure
• Be knowledgeable regarding location of MSDS for all hazardous chemicals used within the assigned area and take appropriate action as needed to mitigate situation
• Document medications administered - care and treatments provided and Veteran's response to therapy in the clinical record
• Document on flow sheets - Reports of Contact - and Incident Reports as appropriate
• Recognize and report acute changes in Veteran conditions to the registered nurse (R.N.) and documents observations appropriately
• Maintain rapport with Veterans - families - volunteers - visitors - and coworkers
• Accurately document measurements such as vital signs - weights - and finger sticks for glucose monitoring - intake and output
• Provide input into the formulation of the nursing care plan
• Provide for Veterans' physical and psychosocial needs
• Assist with diagnostic procedures such as physical exams - using sterile technique as appropriate - if applicable to assigned unit
• Collect and label specimens for laboratory study such as urine - sputum - and stool
• Administer oxygen and inhalation therapy as ordered
• Accurately obtain and document measurements and pulse oximetry to include documentation of oxygen flow rate/room air and route
• Work in area with service dogs

Qualifications

• 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
• 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
• Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare - administer - and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous medications
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest
• 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
• 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
• Knowledge and ability to organize and deliver care - the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional - socio-economic - and age-related factors
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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