Practical Nurse-Psychiatric

Summary

The Buffalo VA Medical Center is seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse to join the Nursing, Mental Health team. The practical nurse functions as a member of the interdisciplinary team, participates in providing holistic care to patients in acute, sub-acute or chronic stages of illness with changing nursing needs that are predictable and require periodic assessment by the registered nurse.

Duties

The LPN participates in planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care by: Maintaining positive patient/family/staff relationships by utilizing appropriate communication skills. Assisting in the collection and documentation of objective and subjective data relative to more complex patient situations. Participating in patient centered conferences/shift reports and contributing information for the development and review of nursing's plan of care. Collaborating with the Registered Nurse in developing, selecting the appropriate sequence of procedures, and implementing a plan of care individualized to carry out the nursing needs of the patient. Providing competent patient care in a manner which ensures safety to patient, staff, visitors and self and seeking direction as necessary. Maintaining a clean, safe, and therapeutic environment and reporting potential and actual hazards to the registered nurse. Adhering to all safety and health standards, regulations, and work practices. Organizing and obtaining routine supplies and equipment for patient care delivery. Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action. Assisting with routine diagnostic measures, such as lumbar puncture, preparation for radiological or operative procedure, etc. Performing and/or assisting in all aspects of nursing care to meet patient's needs. These needs include: Psychosocial/Spiritual well being Personal Hygiene Physical Comfort and privacy Activity, exercise, rest Nutrition Elimination Prevention of skin breakdown Rehabilitation aspects of care Safety Recognizing emergent situations and initiating appropriate intervention. Initiates CPR when indicated and maintains BLS certification. Technically proficient in performing a full range of practical nursing care as appropriate to area of assignment. Ability to carry out assigned patient care based on the patient's condition and uses judgement to select the appropriate order and sequence of treatments. Administering selected medications, including psychotropic drugs, seeking clarification of orders as necessary. Identifying the need for PRN medications and recognizing, reporting, and documenting effects of medications. Documenting administration of all medications in the Medical Record following established policies. Documenting the response to PRN medications in the Medical Record according to policy and procedure. Assisting with monitoring prescribed therapies (e.g. oxygen therapy), and implementation of the treatment program Knowledge and skill in performing 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. Recording pertinent information in the medical record, and reporting patient status to a registered nurse. Documenting patient/family/significant other teaching and their response to the teaching. Assisting in orienting patients/family/staff to unit routines and pertinent VAWNYHS and Network 2 policies. Working as a cooperative and courteous member of the interdisciplinary team. Displaying respect for human dignity and the uniqueness of the patient unrestricted by consideration of social or economic status, personal attributes, or nature of health problems. Safeguarding the patient's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature. Assisting in the implementation of the unit's quality improvement program. Following established safety practices and reporting to the supervisor, as promptly as possible, any occupational illness or injury which is sustained. Completes all mandatory requirements and appropriate competencies before the due date for the areas in which they are assigned. Maintains professional boundaries with patients, families, and other staff at all times. Applying relevant growth and development processes when treating and caring for age-specific veterans. Identifying physical, social, psychological, cultural needs of veterans when delivering care. Work Schedule: 6:00am - 6:30pm/6:00am - 2:30pm; position is a 12 hour shift with one (1) 8 hour tour during each pay period Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 23918 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

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. Additional information may also be obtained from the NLNAC Website. 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 (PL) 98-160, enacted 11/21/83, and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted 10/28/86; and for their future personnel actions under this authority. The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions. Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school. See paragraph 4, section C. 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. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved. GS-4: Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria below: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; 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. 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 l