Licensed Practical Nurse

Summary

The PACT LPN is responsible for assisting in the managing and optimizing self-care management of primary care patients. The PACT LPN demonstrates outstanding collaboration and communication with the Core Team (Patient - Primary Care Provider - RN Care Manager - and Clerk) and Expanded Team (family/caregiver) - internal and community-based services involved in providing care to the patient - to provide timely access - comprehensive services - and coordination to optimize the patient's care.

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 Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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
• Exceptions 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 employment
• OR Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 - enacted November 21 - 1983 - or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 - enacted October 28 - 1986
• OR Individual granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• Licensure - 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-03 - None beyond the basic requirements
• LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g. - medication administration)
• however - completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved
• GS-04 - 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
• GS-05 - Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care for patients with various physical and/or behavioral problems
• Works with the RN and/or MD/DO to train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) according to acceptable standards of practice
• Provides effective education to patients and/or family members on common disease processes - medication - and prescribed treatments
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team - interacting appropriately with patients - family members - and professional/supportive personnel involved in patient care - incorporating established customer service standards into practice
• Knowledge and skill to prepare - administer - and document actions specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or intravenous medications - as permitted by local facility policies
• Observes and documents patient responses to medications and reports any changes in condition to the RN or MD/DO
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and institute emergency measures - promptly seek assistance from the RN or MD/DO - and assist in resuscitation procedures during cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to equipment breakage/malfunction - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO
• Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures - although more complex practices may be subject to closer - higher-level review
• GS-06 - Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN
• Technically proficient in initiating - performing - and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• Knowledge and ability to carry out assigned patient care based on patients' conditions
• use judgment in procedures and treatments
• accurately recognize - report - and record relevant patient information
• Completed work should only need a general review by an RN or MD/DO for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures
• Ability to observe - identify - and respond to patients' needs - including medication - equipment-assisted care - and patient/family education - considering emotional - socio-economic - and age-related factors
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or intravenous) and performs treatments
• Observes and documents changes in patients' conditions and reports deviations to an RN or MD/DO
• Recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations - seeks assistance from an RN and/or MD/DO - and initiates appropriate emergency interventions as directed
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations - and the ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family members - and other staff
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - and to promote positive relationships - communication - and socialization skills
• Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery
• Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients - family members - and/or other internal/external customers
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures
• This includes preparing the patient - assisting in the diagnostic examination - preparing and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment - and monitoring the patient's condition before - during - and following the procedure
• Serves as a preceptor in orienting - educating - and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex - specialized tests/procedures
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06
• Physical Requirements: Extensive periods of sitting - standing and walking
• Working with patients requires regular and recurring lifting - pushing - stooping - squatting - kneeling - crouching and similar activities
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Duties include - but not limited to - the following major responsibilities: Responsible for performing pre visit phone calls to prepare the patient for the upcoming appointment by reviewing with the patient any needed information to provide an efficient clinic visit for both the patient and provider
• Must be able to maintain clinic workflow by ensuring patients are screened in a timely manner and assistance is provided to other teams when needed
• Ability to provide coordination of care after the appointment with the provider - when necessary
• Ability to utilize health coaching during pre-visit phone calls or clinic visits to guide patients to identify or achieve patient-driven goals
• Ability to provide data collection from unscheduled patients and telephone calls - when necessary
• Responsible for contributing to the secure messaging process and appropriately forwarding messages as needed
• Ability to provide patient and family health education
• including self-management - prevention - and wellness
• Must be able to interact and communicate appropriately with patients utilizing motivational interviewing or health coaching
• Responsible for completing focused data collection by the utilization of all clinical reminders as outlined in the clinical guidelines standing order policy
• Responsible for performing pre-visit phone calls to prepare the patient for the upcoming appointment by reviewing with the patient any needed information to provide an efficient clinic visit for both the patient and provider
• Must be able to maintain clinic workflow by ensuring patients are screened in a timely manner and assistance is provided to other teams when needed
• Ability to utilize health coaching during pre-visit phone calls or clinic visits to guide patients to identify or achieve patient-driven goals
• Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm Monday -Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Pay: 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 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 Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93252-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized