Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse

Summary

The Oklahoma City VA Medical Center - Nursing Operations service line - is currently recruiting for one (1) Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurse in Oklahoma City - OK. This is a float position for the nursing Telehealth department. The nurse will perform a variety of tasks and services - utilizing technology to help provide specialty care via Telehealth. This position requires daily travel to one of the Community-Based Outpatients Clinics that comprise the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System.

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. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• 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) and 7407(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 Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) formerly known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) - at the time the program was completed
• *(Copy of valid transcripts are required when submitting application)
• Health care education obtained in the military service or training in the military service which was accepted by the licensing body in the jurisdiction in which you are licensed
• *(Copy of Military transcripts or documents that show completion of health care education) Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who was 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
• Granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• 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
• An LPN / LVN who has or has ever had - any license(s) revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3 - section B - paragraph 16 of this part Grade Determinations: GS 7 Licensed Practical Nurse / Licensed Vocational Nurse Experience- 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
• GS 7 Licensed Practical Nurse / Licensed Vocational Nurse Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 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
• Exhibits skill - creativity - and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels
• 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 patient care
• Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery
• Work of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervision
• Individuals in these positions are - to a considerable extent - expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles - art and science of practical nursing
• The staff mix is such that employees at this grade level are expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under very general supervision
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• This vacancy is a GS-7 position - which is above the Full Performance Level.

Duties

• VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties and Responsibilities: Demonstrates the ability to exercise independent technical judgments
• Possess and applies a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles - art - and science of practical nursing
• Technically proficient in initiating - performing - and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations and assists other staff
• Carries out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions
• Accurately recognize - report and record relevant patient information
• Observes - identifies - and responds to the patient's needs for medication - equipment-assisted care - and patient/family education
• In Organizing and delivering care - the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic - and age-related factors
• Utilizing principles of aseptic technique - universal precautions - and isolations requirements
• Prepares the clinical environment - which may include preparing medical and telecommunications equipment to be used for clinical examination and treatment
• Performs specialized imaging and testing in accordance with national guidelines - as well as support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures
• Taking and recording in the medical record: clinical data from testing - imaging - height - blood pressure - pulse - respiration - pulse oximeter - temperate - pain score - weight - and neurological check
• Collecting specimens - urine - feces - sputum - etc. - and appropriately prepare and transports specimens to the laboratory
• Completes standardized clinical documentation and templates within the scope of training - required timeframes - and applicable guidelines ensuring that patient privacy is protected by complying with all information security and patient privacy regulations
• Accurately and consistently reports and records significant veteran information received from other team members and is able to analyze and implement modifications based on these reports - communicates changes - concerns and issues about patient or other work-related situations to the supervisor as soon as they occur
• Is adept at encouraging and communicating with challenge psychological and physical behaviors to promote optimal functioning
• Uses treatment modalities and implements appropriate practices and procedures with complex patients
• Utilizes skills to influence and communicate with difficult and challenging veterans and families
• Maintains a positive understanding and helpful attitude toward patient - patient families and coworkers
• Maintains regular contact with other staff members and the Facility Telehealth Coordinator to work out process issues - equipment needs - problems - data collection and any other logistical issues
• Maintains knowledge and skill in applying an extensive body of rules - procedures - and operations in Telehealth-related technologies and a variety of computer hardware and software used for telecommunications - data entry and retrieval - record maintenance - document - and report generation
• Adheres to and teaches others infection control guidelines and practices
• Performs treatments - procedures and the use and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment appropriate to assigned area Self-directed and responsible to provide education and training to Veterans and clinical staff on the use of telehealth technologies and serves as a point of contact to answer questions and address concerns related to these technologies
• Additional duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 6:30 am to 5:00 pm Compressed/Flexible:Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Functional Statement #: 56291-A

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.