Practical Nurse - PACT - Primary Care

Summary The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides patient‑centered care to the Montrose and Carmel outpatient clinics using the Patient Aligned Care Team model. Using a broad working knowledge of nursing procedures, the LPN will provide a broad range of direct age‑specific patient care activities and supportive services under the guidance and supervision of the Registered Nurse. Qualifications Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. Licensure: Full, active, current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) or District of Columbia. English Language Proficiency: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). 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‑6. (a) Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS‑5 level or equivalent—fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS‑5 LPN/LVN. (b) Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations. (c) Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients’ conditions, to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments, and to accurately recognize, report and record relevant patient information. (d) Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures. (e) Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient’s needs for care—including medication, equipment‑assisted care and patient/family education. (f) Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations—seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO—and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed. (g) Knowledge and understanding of human behavior—patient motivations and reactions to situations—and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members and other staff. (h) Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members and/or other internal/external customers. Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures—including 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 after the procedure. Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex specialized tests/procedures. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills—sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice. Preferred Experience: 2–3 years clinic (med‑surg background) experience preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard—please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑6. Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position include lifting, prolonged standing and sitting, frequent bending, walking (distance), climbing, reaching (overhead, extensive/repetitive), pulling, pushing, repetitive motion and stooping. Mental and sensory requirements include recall, reasoning, problem solving, hearing, speaking clearly, writing legibly, keyboarding, reading and logical thinking, depth perception, hearing (aide permitted). Near/far vision correctable to meet driver’s license requirements. Duties The Licensed Practical Nurse working in Primary Care PACT team is responsible for providing safe, effective clinical and administrative support in a wide variety of patient care and related activities. The LPN functions as a member of the health care team by demonstrating the practical nursing knowledge and skills necessary in carrying out complex practical nursing care assignments with Primary Care. The LPN functions under the guidance and supervision of the Registered Professional Nurse and is accountable for demonstrating the knowledge and skills necessary to perform patient care and supportive responsibilities appropriate to the age of the patients served. The LPN is under the supervision of the Primary Care Nurse Manager. The LPN is responsible to the Primary Care Nurse Manager for overall work performance and evaluation maintaining acceptable standards within a health care setting. Maintains knowledge and skills to care for a wide range of patients including those with acute and chronic illnesses in the clinic setting. Demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Demonstrates understanding of disease condition—nursing process. Rooms patients into the clinic exam room—interviews patient and/or significant other and documents intake data as per policy. Possesses comprehensive knowledge of VA protocols, VHA Directives, VA HVCS SOP/Policies related to clinic management, documentation and procedural requirements such as storage, use and pre‑cleaning of reusable medical equipment, time‑outs and processing/delivery of specimens to the laboratory. Obtains vital signs, weight and height and completes all nursing clinical reminders thoroughly and accurately per due dates and clinical appropriateness—including Suicide Screening, Alcohol Use Screening, Tobacco Use Screening, Pain Screening, Frail/Elderly Screening, etc.—and shares information with provider and PACT teams to develop and implement action plans. Demonstrates knowledge, skill and ability to recognize and effectively intervene in potential or emergent situations. Rapid Response—Code Blue/Green. Demonstrates the ability to independently adjust or modify care being delivered to meet the changing needs of the patient with notification to the RN or provider for concurrence. Participates in PACT huddle—answering secure messages, performing discharge phone calls, urgent room follow‑up phone calls, answering Outlook messages for the Pact team and responding to nurse triage messages for the Pact team. Demonstrates knowledge of standard precautions, medical asepsis and sterile technique with the ability to correctly apply these principles and techniques with implementation in the clinic setting. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary PACT team in development, implementation and evaluation of the treatment plan to promote patient participation and foster patient self‑management. Includes patient and/or family in treatment planning and goal setting. Performs venipuncture using two patient identifiers, aseptic technique and appropriate accessioning. Sets up, cleans up, processes specimens and transports to the lab per hospital SOP/Policies. VA Careers – Licensed Practical Nurse: Benefits & Schedule Work Schedule: Monday 10:00 am‑7:30 pm, Tuesday‑Friday 8:00 am‑4:30 pm. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr Direct Jobs