Licensed Practical Nurse (PACT) Clinical Associate

About the role

The Licensed Practical Nurse (PACT) Clinical Associate carries out the most complex practical nursing care assignments - which include performing nonstandard and specialized activities sufficient to solve a range of complex nursing problems - under the general review of a Registered Nurse (RN) in the outpatient clinic.

Responsibilities

• Collects data and information, recognizes changes in conditions, and reports this to the RN supervisor or another appropriate clinical supervisor to assist in the identification of problems and formulation of goals, outcomes, and patient-centered plans of care that are developed in collaboration with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team.
• Participates in the nursing process by appraising the individual patient's status or situation at hand.
• Participates in implementing established teaching plans for patients and their families with common health problems and well-defined health learning needs and suggests any modifications to the plan of care that may be necessary.
• Facilitates continuity of care by making the appropriate referrals.
• Performs nonstandard and specialized activities sufficient to solve a range of complex nursing problems of considerable difficulty and responsibility - under very general supervision.
• Possesses broader knowledge and skills for increased involvement in the development and modification of the Veterans' plan of care.
• Exercises independent technical judgement.
• Possesses and applies a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles, art, and science of practical nursing.
• Uses a systematic problem-solving process in the care of multiple patients with predictable health care needs to provide individualized, goal-directed nursing care.
• Performs nonstandard and specialized activities sufficient to solve a range of complex nursing problems of considerable difficulty and responsibility - under very general supervision.

Requirements

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, English Language Proficiency, Licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or District of Columbia, Licensure.

Qualifications

• 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 (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 of the United States, or District of Columbia.
• Experience: 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.

Skills

• Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in selected, more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings.
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery.
• Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and patient's response to medications/treatments received.
• 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.
• Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes.
• Exercises 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.
• 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.
• Comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices to serve as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care.
• Prompts reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO.
• Exercises 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 provides leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37-50 days of annual paid time off.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• 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.
• 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.

Pay

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Schedule

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases

Benefits

• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.