Licensed Practical Nurse - Community Care

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Battle Creek (MI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is seeking Licensed Practical Nurses to provide specialized administrative services within the Community Care Service. Responsibilities include scheduling appointments, managing patient information, and ensuring compliance with healthcare guidelines. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and hold a valid nursing license. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to veteran healthcare in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen and possess a valid nursing license.
• Proficient in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for scheduling and coordinating patient appointments.
• Monitors consults and ensures compliance with guidelines.
• Prepares and submits required documentation for Community Care.

Skills

Communication

Customer Service

Teamwork

Education

Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing

Job description

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting for Licensed Practical Nurse(s) within the Community Care Service.
Duties

The LPN is responsible for accomplishing a variety of specialized administrative services, specific but not limited to: scheduling/coordinating appointments using advanced clinic access principles, interpreting and verifying provider orders/consultations in accordance with Veteran Health Administration (VHA) national scheduling guidelines, scheduling, canceling and re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults, entering no-show information, monitoring inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage, monitoring consult timeframe compliance, reviewing records for accuracy and completion, collecting data for reporting and dissemination to various programs, and managing medical administrative functions associated with the Community Care Service. The LPN collects and updates demographic and insurance information.

The LPN works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model (i.e., PACT) and performs receptionist duties, customer service and other duties assigned for the proper and timely treatment of patients. LPN is responsible for preparing outpatient authorizations for Community Care in Health Share Referral Manager (HSRM). The LPN contacts Veterans to determine preference of Community Care Provider and desired appointment date. Depending upon the specialty of service requested for Community Care, employee prepares the required Community Care Provider information form and submits to VA Primary Care Physicians electronically for other medical information needed and signature for continuation of care. The LPN discontinues consults after unsuccessful scheduling attempts following consult directives. The LPN is responsible for closing consults following appropriate guidelines with outside medical records. The LPN monitors progress of all open community outpatient consults within the medical center and corrects consult transmission errors and incorrect provider assignments. Prepares medical center level reports upon request from upper management, utilizes multiple software applications to obtain information required to complete reports, and assists in planning, reviewing, and reporting of date. He/She also collects, compiles, analyzes, and presents data regarding consult integrity in the Community Care Service.

The LPN is responsible for receiving and accurately processing confidential documents in a timely manner, reviewing documents and reports for completeness, entering pertinent information in the computerized patient record, communicating with PACT significant findings, and uploading the outside medical records . The LPN serves as a key staff member and attends regular staff meeting, conference calls, seminars and trainings related to his/her responsibilities and various committees and boards as called upon by the Community Care Leadership Team. He/She participates in facility and network initiatives for growth, improved access, quality patient care, and exceptional customer services.

The LPN tracks all consults/referrals to ensure all details are resolved and referrals occur without incident. This includes, but is not limited to ensuring: appropriate and adequate legal eligibility and clinical information is provided to other institutions prior to referrals, information from outside institutions is provided to appropriate clinician following the rendering of treatment, medical records needed are referred at the most clinically opportune time and are returned following completion of treatment, radiology films are requested and sent to the referring facilities as needed, and clinical appointments are made within the indicated time frame. The LPN participates in the development of policies and procedures regarding community referrals. He/She completes consults adhering to the Community Care Records Management Standard Operating Procedure.

Requirements

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.
• 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. 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). OR
• VHA 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, 1986; and for their future personnel actions under this authority. OR
• Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school.

Licensure : 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.
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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.:
Licensed Practical Nurse 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.

Licensed Practical Nurse GS-04

• Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or
• Graduation from an approved school 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.

Licensed Practical Nurse 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 to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures.
• Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to Rn or MD/DO.
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, 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. However, completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review.

Licensed Practical Nurse 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 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 and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations, and 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, which include 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 to support duties for these more complex, specialized tests/procedures.

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).

Preferred Experience: Experience/Familiarity with Consult Management and the authorization process.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Pushing, intermittent hours; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking; Standing; Kneeling; Repeated bending; Both legs required; Ability for rapid and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors, shades of color; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental and Emotional Stability.