Practical Nurse - Float Specialty Medicine

Summary The primary purpose of the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) performs more complex nursing assignments within their practice setting. The incumbent will report to Specialty Medicine and serve in a float position - providing coverage and support as needed. The LPN will perform complex nursing assignments within their practice setting and possess comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices. 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 PolicyEducationGraduate 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 applicantExceptions 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 employmentVHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 - enacted November 21 - 1983 - and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 - enacted October 28 - 1986and for their future personnel actions under this authorityIndividuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved schoolLicensureFull - 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 ColumbiaAn LPN[/LVN] who has or has ever had - any license(s) revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3 - section B - paragraph 16 of this partEnglish Language ProficiencyLicensed 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)Grade Determinations GS-7 The GS-7 grade level is for select - complex LPN/LVN positions - as established by each health care facilityTo be advanced - employees must meet all of the following standards - provided the standard is part of their assignmentCompletion 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/LVN6 Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties - including assignments in selected - more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settingsKnowledge base 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 interventionsPositions 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 plansAbility to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care deliveryMakes astute observations of subtle - less obvious changes - both physical and emotional - in patient's condition - and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patient's response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient's care planAppropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level interventionAt this grade level - the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing - and - as appropriate - modifying patient care treatmentThey must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observationsAbility 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(This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions - promptly inform the RN or MD/DO of observed changes in patient's condition and initiate appropriate - prescribed interventionsEmployees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levelsKnowledge 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 deliveryAt this grade level - the LPN/LVN must have a broader knowledge of the patient treatment process and exercise judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriateAssists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomesExercises 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 instructionsThis includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervisionExhibits 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/media7 Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practicePossesses 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 careServes 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 areasSupports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care deliveryPromptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DOIn addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level - the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staffWork of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervisionIndividuals 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 nursingThe staff mix is such that employees at this grade level are expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under very general supervisionActively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practicePreferred Experience: At least 2 years of LPN float experienceReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019. Duties VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Uses Veteran care data to contribute actively to the Veteran's overall health planPromotes and demonstrates nursing concepts within the Medical CenterWorks collaboratively with Registered Nurses (RNs) and/or Health Care Providers (HCPs)Communicates effectively with Veterans - families - caregivers - professionals - and support staffCompletes FENO (Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide) testing - PFT (Pulmonary Function Tests) - and ESS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) questionnaires when orderedAssists providers with thyroid biopsies - actively participating in the time-out process and ensuring proper specimen collection - labeling - and transportationMaintains knowledge to download continuous glucose monitor data - perform daily glucometer control tests - and conduct glucometer testing on patientsCompletes equipment setup for Rheumatology proceduresProvides patient education for first-time at-home injectable medicationsAssists providers with biopsies - Mohs - and other in-office procedures - including: Checking and confirming orders Participating in the time-out process Numbing patients per physician order Ensuring proper specimen collection and labeling Transporting specimens to the lab in a timely manner Cleaning procedure rooms using proper infection control techniques Ensuring adequate supply levels in each room Completes nurse visits per policy - including accurate site photography in the electronic health record and performing phototherapy per physician ordersPerforms venipuncture per physician orders - ensuring proper specimen collection - handling - and transportation to the labWork Schedule: Full TimeMonday - Friday - 07:30AM-4:00PM Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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 positionFunctional Statement #: 93671A - Practical Nurse - Float Specialty Medicine/CBSR-13090253-27-JDPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized