Licensed Practical Nurse-(PACT) Clinical Associate

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The PACT Licensed Practical Nurse Clinical Associate within the Orlando VA Healthcare System outpatient clinic performs highly specialized practical nursing duties under general RN supervision. This role requires full licensure as an LPN/LVN in the United States and adherence to VA education and licensure requirements.

Experience in Primary Care, Women's Health, or PACT is preferred. Responsibilities include assisting RN/Provider with prioritizing Veteran care, administering medications,

Qualifications

• English-language proficiency in speaking and writing as required by VA policy.
• Licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) in the United States and current unrestricted licensure.
• Exceptions apply for certain military or grandfathering provisions as described in VA standards.

Responsibilities

• Assist RN/Provider with prioritizing Veteran care needs and adjusting care plans.
• Administer medications and treatments according to established policies and document responses.
• Observe and report changes in patient condition to appropriate medical staff.
• Work within complex outpatient settings and contribute to development of the patient health plan.
• Participate in care delivery and ensure safe, therapeutic nursing interventions.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

Graduate of a practical or vocational nursing program

Job description

Summary

The PACT Licensed Practical Nurse 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 Orlando VA Healthcare System outpatient clinic.

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
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education-Documentation Submitted
• 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
• Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission - 61 Broadway - 33rd Floor - New York - NY 10006
• Additional information may also be obtained from the NLNAC Website
• 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
• 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
• The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions
• Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• See paragraph 4 - section C
• Licensure-Documentation Submitted
• 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
• An 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 part
• 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-7: Completion 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/LVN
• Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties - including assignments in selected - more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings
• Knowledge 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 interventions
• Positions 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 plans
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery
• Makes 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 plan
• Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention
• At this grade level - the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing - and - as appropriate - modifying patient care treatment
• They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations
• 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
• (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 interventions
• Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels
• 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
• At 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 appropriate
• 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
• This includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervision
• Exhibits 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
• Preferred Experience: PACT experience - Primary Care experience and collateral leadership duties such as UPC member - shared governance council involvement - preceptor etc.
• 2 years of Women's Health experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - kneeling - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual - capable of working effectively in stressful situations - and able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignment
• This may include but is not limited to medication administration and ADLs.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited: Demonstrates ability to assist RN and/or Provider to appropriately prioritize overall Veteran care needs and adjust plans for care delivery
• Completed work should only need very limited review by a registered nurse (RN) or Provider for appropriateness and conformity with established standards of practice - policies - and procedures
• Demonstrates the ability to proactively assist the RN and/or Provider in addressing Veteran's needs for medication/treatments - accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and Veteran's response to medications/treatments received
• Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN and/or Provider of more subtle physical and emotional changes in Veteran's condition requiring higher-level intervention and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations
• Demonstrates a broad knowledge of the Veteran treatment process and exercises judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate
• At this grade level - the LPN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing and as appropriate - modifying patient care treatment
• Possesses knowledge and demonstrates skills to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent Veteran care situations - seeks assistance of the RN and/or Provider for appropriate team intervention - and effectively intervenes as directed - to assure the continuation of optimal - safe - and therapeutic Veteran care delivery
• Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions - promptly informs the RN and/or Provider of observed changes in Veteran's condition and initiates appropriate - prescribed interventions
• Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels
• Assists individuals or groups of Veterans - families - and/or caregivers to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive Veteran outcomes
• Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with Veterans - families - and/ or caregivers who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control - resistant or abusive behaviors - or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions
• Supports the RN and/or Provider in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in Veteran care delivery
• Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN and/or Provider
• In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level - the LPN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0730-1600 - 0800-1630 - flexible to meet the needs of the organization
• 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 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 eligible for Telework
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 19707 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.