Licensed Practical Nurse - Primary Care

Summary

The VA Hudson Valley Health Care System is hiring an Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at its Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Montrose) Campus. This role performs assigned duties to promote quality health care, positive customer service, and an environment committed to serving the Veteran, supporting a patient focused care model with consistent, high quality service delivery.

Duties

['The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) will serve on the Primary Care PACT (Patient Aligned Care Team), providing safe, effective clinical and administrative support across a wide range of patient care activities. As a valued member of the health care team, the LPN applies practical nursing knowledge and skills to carry out complex nursing care assignments within Primary Care, working under the guidance and supervision of a Registered Professional Nurse. The LPN demonstrates the competencies needed to deliver patient care and support services appropriate to patients of all ages, and reports to the Primary Care Nurse Manager, who oversees overall work performance and evaluation to ensure adherence to established health care standards. Major Duties Includes but not Limited to: Addresses patient care issues in accordance with VA practice standards and LPN licensure requirements. Maintains the knowledge and skills needed to care for a wide range of patients, including those with acute and chronic illnesses, in the clinic setting. Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with varied physical and/or behavioral conditions, including a clear understanding of disease processes and nursing interventions. Rooms patients in the clinic exam room, interviews the patient and/or significant other, and documents intake data in accordance with policy. Obtains vital signs, weight, and height, and completes all nursing clinical reminders accurately and by their due dates, including Suicide Screening, Alcohol Use Screening, Tobacco Use Screening, Pain Screening, and Frail/Elderly Screening; shares findings with the provider and PACT team to develop and implement action plans. Applies comprehensive knowledge of VA protocols, VHA Directives, and VA HVHCS SOPs/policies related to clinic management, documentation, and procedural requirements, including storage, use, and precleaning of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME), time-outs, and specimen processing/delivery to the laboratory. Demonstrates the knowledge, skill, and ability to recognize and effectively intervene in potential or emergent situations, including Rapid Response and Code Blue/Green events. Independently adjusts or modifies patient care to meet changing patient needs, with notification to the RN or provider for concurrence. Participates in PACT huddles, responds to secure messages and Outlook messages for the PACT team, performs discharge and urgent-room follow-up phone calls, and responds to nurse triage messages. Demonstrates knowledge of standard precautions, medical asepsis, and sterile technique, applying these principles correctly within the clinic setting. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary PACT team to develop, implement, and evaluate treatment plans that promote patient participation and self-management, including the patient and/or family in treatment planning and goal setting. Communicates calmly, courteously, and professionally with patients, staff, and visitors while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations and VA HVHCS policies. Uses advanced communication skills with verbally or physically disruptive patients or visitors, applying Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) principles and Code Green procedures; maintains current PMDB training. Adheres to established lines of authority and communication, following the chain of command. Completes all mandatory education requirements, including obtaining and maintaining Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Requests leave appropriately and in a timely manner. Performs other duties as assigned. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full-time, split-shift schedule: Monday 10:00am - 7:30pm, and Thursday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm. 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 Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.']

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: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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. Exception 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 will be accepted as meeting the education requirements OR 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. 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: 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. GS-03 - None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 - Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN OR Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived) 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 AND; Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Works with the RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery. Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and /or prescribed treatment regimes. Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professional and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice. 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. Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated, promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest. 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. 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 AND; 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, 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 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. Preferred Experience: 2-3 years of experience in outpatient clinic, medical-surgical, home-based, or community-based clinic settings. 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-03 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.