Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurse

The incumbent performs a variety of supportive, nursing, and medical tasks necessary to the care of patients during diagnostic and therapeutic visits to an Eastern Colorado Health Care VA Primary Care Clinic location. The Licensed Practical Nurse's practice is modeled on the standards established within the VHA model for Patient Aligned Care Teams.

Major duties include, but are not limited to :

• Providing a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and / or behavioral problems.
• Documenting appropriate information in the patient record and reporting significant deviations to the RN and / or provider.
• Providing effective education to patients and / or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and / or prescribed treatment regimes.
• Recognizing the need for and instituting cardiopulmonary resuscitation measures when indicated in accordance with established medical center policy and procedure.
• Independently performing coordinating duties related to the operation of the clinic such as ordering and maintaining supplies and medications and obtaining patient data.
• Recognizing and responding to breakage / malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.
• Performing other assignments designated by the RN or clinic providers which are essential to patient care and appropriate to the incumbent's level of training.
• Using motivational interviewing techniques to guide patients to establish goals.
• The incumbent practices within their nursing scope of practice and functional level, demonstrating and promoting the mission of the VA and ICARE values.
• Set up or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment as applicable for all equipment for which you have been trained.
• Performs all unit specific nursing interventions and procedures to include but not limited to : Understand and implement the PACT model, PACT Protocols, PACT handbook VHA (1), implements, and documents education provided to patients and families.
• Delivers safe care to assigned patients, while developing technical competencies based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice, VHA Directives, and local policies.
• Safely and effectively uses patient care equipment.
• Reports equipment in need of repair.
• Correctly and safely performs nursing procedures or seeks help when needed.
• Recognizes overt abnormal signs and symptoms and / or changes in patients condition and responds appropriately.
• Responsible for timely implementation of orders and nursing interventions.
• Requests assistance from co-workers when needed; knows when to ask for help.
• Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments, using the nursing process, based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Completes initial assessment of patient condition and response to treatment and initiates follow-up as needed.
• Assesses patient's learning needs, learning preference and readiness to learn.
• Develops and implements a plan to meet learning needs, instructing patients and families in basic health teaching and discharge planning.
• Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and progress towards attainment of goals and expected outcomes.
• Revises plan of care according to evaluations of patient's responses and outcomes.
• Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and the Bar Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) software per policy.
• Treats all patients and families with dignity and respect.
• Listens to and honors patient and family perspectives and choices.
• Patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds are incorporated into the planning and delivery of care in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner (Patient and Family Centered Care).
• Maintains professional boundaries with patients, families, and employees.
• Behavior as a role model is transparent and above reproach.
• Other Duties as assigned.

Location of Work : May be assigned to any ECHCS VA Primary Care Clinic.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, Various Hours

Telework : Not Available

Functional Statement # : -A

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report : Not required

Requirements Conditions of Employment :

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.

All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959.

Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

You may be required to serve a probationary period.

Subject to background / security investigation.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications : Basic Requirements :

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States.

English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Education. Candidates must be a 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 at the time the program was completed by the applicant.

Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, 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 Columbia.

GS-3 None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 Experience / Education. Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria in paragraphs 3b(2)(a) through (c) below :

Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) and one year of experience that involved nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures; or Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.

LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-3 grade level; however, they are expected to exercise greater judgment, require less supervision, and to operate in accordance with all established policies, procedure, and techniques.

GS-5 Experience. Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) : The following KSAs are required at the GS-6 grade level for the LPN.

Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.

Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; and to accurately recognize, report and record relevant patient information.

Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD / DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies / procedures.

Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care and patient / family education.

In organizing and delivering care, the LPN / LVN recognizes and considers emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and age-related factors.

Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and / or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies / procedures.

Observes for physical and / or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications / treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD / DO.

Knowledge