Licensed Practical Nurse or Vocational Nurse

Summary

The Primary Care Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) functions as a member of the nursing and treatment teams as assigned. The Primary Care LPN provides complex age-specific nursing care for adult and geriatric patients with physical, mental, behavioral, or psychosocial needs, according to assignment and training in the outpatient clinic setting.

Responsibilities

• Collects and labels specimens, e.g., blood, sputum, urine, stool.
• Sets up and initiates oxygen therapy, including nebulization treatments.
• Provides wound care and reports any changes and/or progress to the RN and provider.
• Provides for lifting, moving, transferring, and/or transporting patients without any personal limitations or physical restrictions.
• Applies abdominal binders, anti-embolic stockings, ace bandages as ordered.
• Implements established care plans. Evaluates patient's progress based on observed data. Recommends modification to the care and/or treatment plan as needed. Recognizes progress or subtle changes in the patient's behavior and/or physical condition, initiates appropriate action, reports actions to the RN and provider and documents in the medical record.
• Recognizes and initiates emergency measures consistent with training.
• Assists appropriately and applies concepts for the prevention and management of disruptive while providing for physical and safety needs.
• Calls Code Blue appropriately and initiates basic life support as needed.
• Uses identified learning needs to provide patient teaching and documents teaching in the medical record. The LPN is able to identify/apply age specific considerations, e.g., the geriatric population's proneness to visual or hearing impairment. Teaching may include diabetic self-care, activities of daily living, coughing, deep breathing, suctioning and tracheostomy care, self-administration of medication and additional procedures as directed by the registered nurse and provider. Assumes an educational role with co-workers.
• Performs such diagnostic procedures such as obtaining vital signs, pain screen, pulse oximetry, bladder scanning, 1&0, heights, weights, fingerstick blood sugars, and EKGs. Recognizes deviations from normal. Documents and reports results to the registered nurse and/or physician.
• Administers oral, subcutaneous, and intramuscular medications. Administers immunizations independently upon completion of competency. Observes, reports, and documents patient's response to medication including adverse reactions and possible medication errors.
• Observes, documents, and reports unpredictable behavior that may lead to violence, potential for injury related to fall risk.
• Cares for, maintains, and orders supplies and equipment, including reporting equipment malfunctions.
• Provides for a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment including work area. Follows all safety policies and procedures including using good body mechanics and wearing personal protective equipment as needed.
• Uses computer to meet current CPRS mandates, e-mail, leave requests, and other computer initiatives.
• Participates in interdisciplinary treatment and discharge planning with team members.
• Assumes initiative and responsibility for completing recurring assignments and, when necessary, assists co-workers in completion of their assignments.

Requirements

• Basic Requirements: 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).
• Licensure: Active, full, current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia.
• English Language Proficiency: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

Qualifications

• Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 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.