Licensed Practical Nurse

About the role

The Ambulatory Care Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) GS-7 functions as a member of the health care team by demonstrating an exceptional degree of practical nursing knowledge and skills necessary for self-direction in carrying out complex practical nursing care assignments within the CBOCs/CPCs for a Veteran population with a variety of health care needs. This position is located at the Fort Detrick - MD Community Based Outreach Clinic.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with a PACT team to provide complex/specialized patient-centered care to a panel of approximately 1200 patients taking into consideration patients' ages, cultural backgrounds, education level, and any other special needs.
• Completes assigned duties and responsibilities that involve performing non-standard and specialized practical nursing activities requiring board nursing knowledge, experience, and skills to address a wide range of care needs.
• Exercises independent judgement and requires minimal supervisory oversight.
• Participates to a greater degree in prioritizing and - as appropriate - modifying patient care treatment plans.
• Demonstrates knowledge, skill, and ability to promptly recognize and effectively intervene in potentially urgent or emergent situations.
• Affirms 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.
• Assesses, records, and reports vital signs, neurological signs, weight, and blood glucose levels.
• Applies and documents medications and immunizations as directed without error that may cause harm to patients.
• Prepares, administers, and documents medications and immunizations as directed without error that may cause harm to patients.

Requirements

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.
• 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.
• Note: must submit transcript with application.
• Exceptions: 1 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 - 2 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/LVNLicensure: 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.
• English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken 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).

Qualifications

• To be advanced - employees must meet all of the following standards - provided the standard is part of their assignment.
• 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.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties - including assignments in selected - more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings.
• 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.
• Absorbs the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations.
• 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.
• 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 healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes.
• 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.
• 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 practicesserves 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.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice.

Benefits

• 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).
• 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 fede