Licensed Practical Nurse-PACT Clinical Associate

Summary

The PACT LPN Clinical Associate carries out the most complex practical nursing care assignments, which include performing nonstandard and specialized activities sufficient to solve a range of complex nursing problems, under the general review of a Registered Nurse (RN) in the outpatient clinic. The LPN uses a systematic problem-solving process in the care of multiple patients with predictable health care needs to provide individualized, goal-directed nursing care.

Duties

Duties include but not limited to: Successfully and consistently demonstrates the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision) as well as a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures. May also serve as leaders or co- leaders in a nursing unit or for a specifically identified group of Veterans. Demonstrates ability to assist RN and/or Provider to appropriately prioritize overall Veteran care needs and adjust plans for care delivery. Completed work should only need very limited review by a registered nurse (RN) or Provider for appropriateness and conformity with established standards of practice, policies, and procedures. Demonstrates the ability to proactively assist the RN and/or Provider in addressing Veteran's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and Veteran's response to medications/treatments received. This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level. Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN and/or Provider of more subtle physical and emotional changes in Veteran's condition requiring higher-level intervention and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations. Demonstrates a broad knowledge of the Veteran treatment process and exercises judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate. At this grade level, the LPN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing and as appropriate, modifying patient care treatment. Possesses knowledge and demonstrates skills to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent Veteran 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 Veteran care delivery. Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions, promptly informs the RN and/or Provider of observed changes in Veteran's condition and initiates appropriate, prescribed interventions. Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels. Makes astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes, both physical and emotional, in Veteran's condition, and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and Veteran's response to care that could require immediate modification of the Veteran's care plan. Assists individuals or groups of Veterans, families, and/or caregivers to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive Veteran outcomes. Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with Veterans, families, and/or caregivers 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 Veteran, family, and/or caregiver satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces, research projects, or in developing educational materials/media. Promotes the incorporation of current Veteran care data in actively contributing to the development and modification of the Veteran's overall health/treatment plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills and provides leadership in assisting other staff to improve and advance their nursing practice. 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. 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 Veteran care. Supports the RN and/or Provider in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in Veteran care delivery. Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN and/or Provider. In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level, the LPN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday, 0800 - 1630. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Functional Statement: 81253F.

Qualifications

Grade Determinations: Documentation Submitted (SF-50): In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.GS-7- 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. 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. Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO 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 MD/DO of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention. At this grade level, the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing, and, as appropriate, modifying patient care treatment. They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations. Ability to proactively 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. (This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) 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. Employ