Summary

The Salisbury VA Medical Center is seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse for our Charlotte Health Care (HCC) location, within the Ambulatory Care Urology team. As a vital team member, the Licensed Practical Nurse will support the clinical staff of Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses in delivering personalized nursing care to all patients.

Qualifications

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), 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 granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVN
• 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
• Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS-07: The GS-07 grade level is for select, complex LPN/LVN positions, as established by each health care facility
• To be advanced, employees must meet all of the following standards, provided the standard is part of their assignment
• Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-06 level or equivalent, fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-06 LPN/LVN
• The following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) must be met: Knowledge and skills necessary to care out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery making astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes (both physical and emotional) in patient's conditions and taking the appropriate action
• Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/OD in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments and appropriately recording patient's response to medications/treatments received
• Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations
• Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting health lifestyles for more positive 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
• Skill, creativity, and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels
• 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
• Ability to support the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery
• Preferred Experience and Certifications 2-3 years of procedural outpatient/ambulatory care experience
• 1-2 years of Surgical Specialty Clinic experience Basic Life Support (BLS) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• NOTE: Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who were 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 are considered to have met the Education requirement
• The waiver does not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions
• Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required
• However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

Duties

• The Licensed Practical Nurse will work within the Ambulatory/Urology Clinic provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and/or prescribed treatment regimes
• Demonstrates ability to serve as a responsible member of the Ambulatory Care team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professionals and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care
• Duties include but are not limited to the following: Demonstrates working practices that include adherence to Infection Control standards and the safe use and operation of equipment
• Maintains knowledge of medical equipment with skill sufficient to set-up, operate and maintain functioning
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/ malfunctions or loss of equipment, supply deficiencies and fire, safety or environmental hazards
• Promptly reports to appropriate personnel for corrective action including the submission of a work order
• Demonstrates knowledge of universal precautions, medical asepsis and sterile technique with ability to correctly apply these principles and techniques to a variety of patient care situations and to assist others to do so
• Utilizes PPE appropriately
• Prevents injury to self and others by complying with safe patient handling and moving procedures and uses proper body mechanics and transfer techniques
• Participates in work groups, teams and/or committees and supports QM/QI activities and organizational goals
• Assists with data collection and implementation of changes in process to improve patient care
• Responds appropriately in emergency situations according to established center procedures
• i.e
• code blue, fire, disaster, hazardous spills
• Complies and adheres to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for reprocessing/cleaning of Reusable Medical Equipment utilized by the clinic
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized