Lead Licensed Vocational Nurse_PACT

Summary

The VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) is a Level 1a major interdisciplinary teaching healthcare system, offering a variety of Inpatient and Outpatient services to Veterans at the medical center in La Jolla and at the six Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located in Chula Vista, Escondido, Imperial Valley, Kearny Mesa, Oceanside, Sorrento Valley, and Rio Clinic. The VASDHS provides high quality care with advanced technologies and a compassionate service to Veterans.

Duties

Work of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervision. LPN/LVNs GS-07 are, to a considerable extent, expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply comprehensive working knowledge of the principles, art and science of practical nursing. LPN/L VNs at this grade level are expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under very general supervision. To be advanced, employees must meet all the following standards: Carries out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in selected, more complex care settings. Incorporates current patient care data in actively contributing to the development of the patient's overall health plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions. Utilizes broader knowledge and skills because supervision is more general and employees are expected to be involved to a greater degree in the development and modification of treatment plans. Assists RN and/or provider to appropriately prioritize 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 provider of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention. Participates to a greater degree in prioritizing, and, as appropriate, modifying patient care treatment. Observes more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrates taking appropriate action based on those observations. Proactively assists the RN or provider 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. (This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level). Readily recognizes the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions, promptly informs the RN or provider of observed changes in patient's condition and initiates appropriate, prescribed interventions. Demonstrates broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels. Promptly recognizes potential urgent or emergent patient care situations, seeks assistance of the RN and/or provider for appropriate team intervention and effectively intervenes, as directed, to assure the continuation of optimal, safe and therapeutic patient care delivery. At this grade level, the LPN/LVN must have a broader knowledge of the patient treatment process and exercise judgment 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. This includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervision. 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 & 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. Supports the RN or provider in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery. Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or provider. In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level, the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of nonlicensed nursing and medical staff. Any other duties as assigned. VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full time

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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met. GS-7. The GS-7 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. (a) 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. (b) Knowledge and skills necessary 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. Positions at this grade level require broader knowledge and skills because supervision is more general and employees are expected to be involved to a greater degree in the development and modification of treatment plans. (c) Abili