Summary

The LPN provides direct and indirect nursing care to patients and families within the primary care clinic. The LPN is a key member of the PACT and multidisciplinary team and is responsible for collaboration with other team members - promoting effective communication and ethical practice while integrating population health to meet the needs of the complex Veteran.

Qualifications

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
• 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 Minimum of 1 year experience required
• preferred 3-5-year clinical experience Basic Life Support (BLS) required Preferred previous experience in an Ambulatory Care and/or community-based clinic setting working with chronic disease management Strong computer skills required using electronic medical records and Microsoft Office Demonstrated excellent critical thinking skills in a rapidly changing environment Demonstrated strong patient teaching skills Excellent communication skills working with an interprofessional team Strong/family advocate Demonstrates strong organizational skills and problem-solving abilities Team player who is proactive to change Creativity - flexibility - and the ability to work in fast-paced changing environment with minimal supervision 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

• Duties include but not limited to: The LPN uses a systematic problem-solving process in the care of patients with chronic health care needs to provide individualized - goal-directed nursing care
• The LPN may contribute to the plan of care by collaborating with interdisciplinary team members - the patient and the patient's family
• The LPN collects data and information - recognizes changes in conditions and reports this to the RN or Provider
• The LPN assists in the identification of problems and formulation of goals - outcomes - and patient-centered plans of care that are developed in collaboration with patients - their families - and the interprofessional team
• The LPN can participate in implementing established teaching plans and providing education to patients and their family
• Uses motivational interviewing and health coaching to guide patients Scrubs future and daily schedules for patient care needs Provide medication list for patient review Performs vital signs and treatments Assists providers with exams/procedures Completes appropriate clinical reminders Administers/tracks immunizations Tracks - prepares - and administers medications Completes orders per provider or nursing protocol Facilitates visit closure by confirming required patient education and orders have been processed/completed Observes - screens - records - and reports patient's response or changes in patient's condition Promptly recognizes and responds to urgent or emergent situations Serves as preceptor for nursing orientation Coordinates group visits Checks daily equipment/supplies and restocks Places orders and consults per clinical reminders and PACT Nurse Protocols working to the top of education and competency Responds to patient calls - messages - and alerts Completes primary care discharge phone calls per clinic policy Monitors PACT metrics for teamlet Obtain labs and other specimen collections Collaborates with PACT staff to develop comprehensive health care plans for patients assigned to patient panels Manages clinic workflow and daily schedule
• Ensuring patients are placed in examination rooms in a timely manner - and providing direction to patients as they move through the clinic environment
• runs the daily clinic with the Provider Participates in team performance improvement and sustainment activities to optimize team efficiency and care delivery to patients Partners with interprofessional clinical team with communications
• facilitating safe transitions of patients between the PACT's site of care and other health care settings - using informal and formal communication methods Provides effective education to patients and/or family member in relation to disease processes - medication and/or prescribed treatment regimens in collaboration with the interprofessional team Recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations - seeks assistance of the RN and/or provider - and initiates appropriate emergency interventions as directed Performs other duties as assigned Active member in daily team huddles
• reviews team metrics and assist team in developing a plan to improve patient outcomes Completes nursing visits working to the top of education and competency Perform virtual care modality visits (VVC - CVT) Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1630 Telework: Not Athorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 52189F