Licensed Vocational Nurse SCI Home Care

Summary

The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) provides care to patients and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team, providing hands-on care and support to Veterans with spinal cord injuries in the home setting. The LVN promptly reports any complications, changes in the patient's condition, or concerns to the RN and the healthcare team, ensuring coordinated and timely medical intervention to maintain the patient's health and well-being.

Duties

The Spinal Cord Injury Home Care duties include: This position requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a complex healthcare system that encompasses a variety of Inpatient and Outpatient services to Veterans. Obtains/collects specimens as ordered. Provides direct patient care and support for the patient. Recognizes changes in patient's condition and deviations from baseline that require immediate intervention. Responds to emergent patient conditions in a safe and effective manner, i.e., effectively recognizes life- threatening situations and takes immediate action. Executes interventions in accordance with treatment plans. Completes CPRS documentation and signs all patient related activity while following documentation timelines and protocols (i.e., within tour of duty, closing encounters per policy). Documentation is factual, objective, accurate, consistent, timely, and complete in electronic medical record. Maintains confidentiality of patient information. Provides timely patient follow-up. Assists with coordinating care of patient. Provide patient education related to managing risk factors, medications, procedures, and other medical regimens related to disease process/specialty clinic, within scope of practice. Adheres to ethical principles and standards in delivering care. Collaborates and communicates effectively with the Interdisciplinary Care Team regarding patient care. Demonstrate mandatory and clinical competencies of the position. Educates patients on provided discharge instructions related to their disease process, ensuring the patient can ask questions. Recognizes changes in patient's condition and deviations from baseline that require immediate intervention. Apply infection control measures appropriately in delivering care. Alerts providers (physicians/nurse practitioners) of abnormal signs and symptoms and/or abnormal test results to expedite care. Participates in coaching and mentoring of colleagues or new employees. Participates in daily DMS huddles and unit specific staff meetings. Provides in-services related to team building or specialty care as needed. Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and progress towards attainment of goals and expected outcomes. Seeks opportunity for self-improvement. Participates in continuous performance improvements. Performs bedside Point of Care testing, to include nasal swabs. Recognizes potential urgent or emergent patient care situations, and able to rapidly call a "Rapid Response Treatment (RRT)" or "Code Blue" emergency. The LVN/LPN must be able to recognize changes in a patient's condition, such as shortness of breath, changes in skin condition (i.e., diaphoresis, flushness), tachycardia, or sudden loss of consciousness. Knowledge of external regulatory standards relevant to the scope and protocols of the position, such as the Joint Commission to meet accreditation standards and the mission and goals of VASDHS. Demonstrate ability to be self-directed in clinical practice and works to the maximum of licensure scope. Actively participates in interdisciplinary committees, task forces or other groups to improve organizational performance through collaboration with other health care providers across service lines for the betterment of the patient. Performs venipuncture and specimen collection per provider order including blood, urine, sputum, and nasal swabs. Reports abnormal lab values. Assists patients in transitioning from the medical center to the community. Maintains knowledge of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and The Joint Commission (TJC) standards to support accreditation, patient safety, and the mission and goals of VASDHS. Actively participates and assists coordinating Home Care Committee meetings. May function as a presenter during Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT) home visit encounters and is responsible for preparing the clinical environment, including medical and telecommunications equipment to be used for clinical examination and treatment, providing hands on assistance, and reporting clinical examination and treatment, providing hands on assistance, and reporting clinical observations under the direction of a licensed independent practitioner or clinical specialist, establishing, and maintaining video conferencing connections and making introductions between the Veteran and provider sites. Completes medication review and fills medication organizes in home. Completes specializing training for toenail trimming in the home. Incorporates into the nursing plan of care when clinically appropriate. Serves as a resource for interdisciplinary team members. Routinely drives to Veterans homes. Maintains requirements to operate government vehicle. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: M- F, 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. 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 for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. 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. Posi