Practical Nurse

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse at the GS-7 level. The role focuses on specialized patient care activities and active contributions to the veteran's overall health plan.

Responsibilities include nursing care, medication administration, and collaboration with RNs/MDs to prioritize and adjust care plans for complex cases, within a military healthcare environment.

Qualifications

• Must meet basic nursing qualifications and licensure requirements.
• Ability to work with complex patient care duties in inpatient/outpatient settings.
• Demonstrates knowledge of nursing regulations and patient health plans.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care and assist RN/MD in patient management.
• Administer prescribed medications and monitor patient responses.
• Assist in developing and modifying patient care plans.
• Collaborate with healthcare team and communicate effectively with patients and families.

Skills

LPN/LVN experience

Ambulatory care

Medication administration

Patient assessment

Job description

Summary

The LPN/LVN GS-7 is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice. Possesses the knowledge and skills to carry out more specialized patient care activities. This knowledge base includes the use of Veteran care data to initiate active contributions to the Veteran's overall health plan. Knowledgeable of program regulations and performs objectives of the nursing program. Promotes and demonstrates nursing concepts in the Medical Center.

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
• The GS-7 grade level is for select - complex LPN/LVN positions - as established by each health care facility
• To be advanced - employees must meet all the following standard such as: (a) Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent - fully meeting all the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN
• (b) 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 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
• (c) Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery
• Make 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
• (d) 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
• (e) Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance from 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
• (f) 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
• (g) 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
• 7 Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice
• (h) Possesses 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 care
• Serves 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 areas
• (i) Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or nonmedical staff in patient care delivery
• Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO
• In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level - the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff
• (j) Work of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervision
• Individuals 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 nursing
• The 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 supervision
• (k) Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice
• Grade Determinations: (a) Assignments of licensed practical and vocational nurses at all grade levels - including entry grade levels - are dependent upon the validation of competence to perform clinical procedures (e.g. - IV therapy) and certification of such competencies via either educational programs or on-the-job training
• (b) New examples of performance at the GS-3 through GS-6 level
• (c) Individuals who meet minimum qualifications may be appointed at the GS-4 level if they have additional recent education and/or experience in a clinical role such as nursing assistant - health technician - or emergency medical technician
• (d) Licensed practical and vocational nurses in selected positions may now be appointed at or advanced to the GS-7 grade level
• (e) The need for licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses at the GS-6 and GS-7 levels is directly related to the skill mix and the availability of higher level supervision within the work unit
• Preferred Experience: Minimum 5 years of Nursing experience
• Ambulatory Care/Outpatient Clinic and/or Specialty Care experience preferred
• 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-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7. Physical Requirements: Applicants must possess the ability to do the following: heavy lifting and carrying - 45 pounds and over
• pulling - pushing and reaching above the shoulder
• walking - standing - kneeling and repeated bending.

Duties

• VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 The LPN/LVN GS-7 is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice
• Possesses the knowledge and skills to carry out more specialized patient care activities
• This knowledge base includes the use of Veteran care data to initiate active contributions to the Veteran's overall health plan
• Knowledgeable of program regulations and performs objectives of the nursing program
• Promotes and demonstrates nursing concepts in the Medical Center
• Works in collaboration with the Registered Nurse (RN) - and or Health Care Provider (HCP)
• Demonstrates the ability to work independently without the need for readily available supervision and communicates effectively with the Veteran - families - caregivers - professionals - and other supportive staff
• Duties assigned to LPN/LVN GS-7 include but are not limited to: accurate preparation and administration of specialty medications - provide direct nursing care to specialized population of patients reinforcing teaching and written instructions initiated by a specialty RN/LIP collaborates with RN to establish priorities for specialized patient care demonstrates knowledge in various specialty procedures - accurately prepares for various specialty procedures - assists specialty LIP in various outpatient procedures - ensures supplies are stocked and ordered as needed - recognizes signs and symptoms of medical and behavioral emergencies performs all other duties within scope as delegated/assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0830-1700 or 0800-1630 Depending on the needs of the clinic
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 95374-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.