Float Licensed Vocational Nurse (Outpatient Primary Care)

Summary

The primary purpose of the Float Outpatient Primary Care Licensed Practical/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) is to provide clinical support to all Primary Care clinics in the San Antonio Area. The Float LVN will provide foundational, patient-centered nursing care under the supervision and direction of a registered nurse (RN) or provider, supporting safe, efficient clinical operations and contributing to high-quality care within the healthcare team.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties: Technically proficient in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations. Appropriately carries out assigned patient care based on the patents' conditions; uses judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments and accurately recognizes, reports and records relevant patient information. Completed work should need only a general review by an RN or provider for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures. Observes, identifies and responds 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, socioeconomic, 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 patient 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 provider. Recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations, seeks assistance from the RN and/or provider, and initiates appropriate emergency interventions as directed. Appropriately utilizes knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations in working effectively with patients, family members, and other staff. Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes 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. Performs 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 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. This clinical position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by nurses such as long periods of continued walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. Examples may include, but are not limited to: significant amounts of time standing, assisting assigned patients utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols Position-specific duties/expectations are detailed in the associated competency and should be performed once the competency has been validated.This position may require flexibility in scheduling and assignments. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc only, as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 99267-F; 99266-F; 99265-F; 99264-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. 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. VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986; and for their future personnel actions under this authority. Individuals 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: GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN/LVN; OR Graduation from an approved school 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-5: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. In addition to that experience, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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