The West Palm Beach Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is looking for a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to work in Ambulatory Care Service. The Licensed Practical Nurse functions as a member of the health care team by demonstrating an exceptional degree of practical nursing knowledge and skills necessary for self-direction in carrying out complex practical nursing care assignments within the (PACT) Primary Care Clinics for Veterans . The LPN will report directly to the Nurse Manager.
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 Determination: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. GS-07: The GS-07 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. Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-06 level or equivalent, fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-06 LPN/LVN. The following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) must be met: Knowledge and skills necessary to care out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings. Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery making astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes (both physical and emotional) in patient's conditions and taking the appropriate action. Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/OD in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments, accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments and appropriately recording patient's response to medications/treatments received. Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations. Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting health lifestyles for more positive 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. Skill, creativity, and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels. 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 patient care. Ability to support the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery. Preferred Experience and Certifications 2-3 years of experience as in LPN/LVN experience related to the area of deployment Basic Life Support (BLS) PACT Experience Ambulatory Care Experience Professional Certification Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. NOTE: Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who were converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986 are considered to have met the Education requirement. The waiver does not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions. Physical Requirements: Applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting. Applicants may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. Applicants may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. Applicants must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Applicants must possess the mental and physical ability to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment. Physical requirements may involve lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, walking, standing, sitting, kneeling, and repeated bending. Applicants must complete annual Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment.
The Ambulatory Care LPN is responsible for the care of Veterans with acute and/or chronic medical, surgical and/or mental/health conditions. The incumbent provides coordinated care across the life span to Veterans, families, caregivers, groups, populations, and communities. Ambulatory care nursing occurs across the continuum of care in a variety of outpatient settings, which included but are not limited to; Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery & Diagnostic Procedure areas and Tele-health service environments. The Ambulatory Care LPN nurses carry out practical nursing care assignments, which include performing nonstandard and specialized activities sufficient to solve a range of nursing care problems, under the general review of a Registered Nurse (RN). 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. The LPN assist in the identification of problems and formulation of goals, outcomes and patient-centered plans of care that are developed in collaboration with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team. The LPNs can participate in implementing established teaching plans for patients and their families with common health problems and well defined health learning needs and suggest any modifications to the plan of care that may be necessary. The LPNs will be responsible for performing complex and supportive nursing and medical tasks necessary for the care of patients during visits to primary care clinics. Duties include Participates in the nursing process by appraising the individual patient's status or situation at hand Gathering patient information, including clinical reminders in our computerized medical record. Collects data and information, recognizes changes in conditions and reports this to the RN supervisor or another appropriate clinical supervisor. Contribute to the plan of care by collaborating with interdisciplinary team members, the patient and the patient's family Ambulatory care LPN facilitates continuity of care by making appropriate referrals Obtaining EKGs; medication administration. Patient/family education Wound care; assisting with surgical and/or specialized procedures. Other assigned duties. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required