Licensed Practical Nurse - surgical Service Urology

Licensed Practical Nurse

This announcement is open to current, permanent VA Medical Center employees, current permanent VA employees from another facility, and external public applicants. Veteran Preference does not apply to this job announcement.

The LPN/LVN GS-7 work is of considerable difficulty and responsibility, and is performed under general supervision. Individuals in these positions are expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles, art, and science of practical nursing.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for goals and interventions that promote veterans in attaining maximum functional potential, such as ambulation, bowel and bladder training, dressing, grooming, bathing, oral hygiene, range of motion exercises and fall prevention modalities.
• Observing, recording, reporting, changes in the patient's condition, as well as assisting in the development and revision of the patient driven holistic care plan for life.
• Demonstrates active collaboration and communication with clinic staff, the patient's family/care giver, internal and community-based services and disciplines involved in providing care to patients.
• Makes observations and thoroughly documents care and the patient's response.
• Performs, reports, and records assigned nursing care, including but not limited to clinical reminders as indicated, checking expiration dates of medications and supplies, obtaining equipment and assisting with minor procedures, documenting and transporting procedural biological specimens, recognizing urgent or emergent patient care situations, and adhering to principles of infection control, safety, and universal precautions.
• Responsible for RME for all scopes and other equipment specific to their clinic assignment, and for cleaning non-reusable medical equipment between patients per standard operating procedures.
• Knowledgeable of program regulations and is able to carry out objectives of the Nursing program within guidelines to meet and maintain program requirements.
• Contributes to the development of the plan of care for assigned veterans outlining program modalities and updates per policy and as changes occur, with general review and co-signature by the RN or MD.
• Promotes and demonstrates nursing concepts in the Medical Center.
• Works in collaboration with the Registered Nurse (RN), and or Health Care Provider (HCP).
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, Intramuscular, and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures.
• Takes appropriate actions based upon communications, observations, veteran care reports, provider/staff discussion.
• Assists other staff in order to prioritize the overall veteran care needs and adjusts the plan of care as needed.
• Is adept at encouraging and communicating with challenging psychological and physical behaviors to promote optimal functioning.
• Demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform treatments, procedures and the use and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment appropriate to assigned duties.
• Performs assigned nursing care responsibilities requiring the use of equipment, technology, or knowledge in procedures performed in the Urology Clinic.
• Provides for supportive care of patients relative to transition from one area of care to another.
• Utilizes special equipment such as IV infusion pumps, Doppler units, pulse oximetry, bladder scanner, EKG, point of care testing, computer, and other instruments.
• Provides nursing care to assigned outpatients whose care requires close observation during procedures.
• Administers intravenous fluids and/or medications according to medical provider orders and established policy.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.
• 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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in [both] spoken and written English.

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 listed below:

• Skills 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.
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize the 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.
• Expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing, and, as appropriate, modifying the patient care treatment.
• Ability to 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.
• 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.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice.
• 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