Summary

This Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) Lead Tele-Sitter position is located at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center in Fayetteville - NC aligned under the Nursing - Acute Care Service Line. The LPN/LVN serves in a nursing generalist role to support employees - volunteers - interns - students - and other medical center staff as an internal point of contact for the Tele Sitter Program.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English - in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• 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
• (See Education section of this announcement for exceptions) 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
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations - operative/invasive procedures - or home settings
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• 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 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-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
• 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
• Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties - including assignments in selected - more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings
• 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
• Positions at this grade level require broader knowledge and skills because supervision is more general and employees are expected to be involved to a greater degree in the development and modification of treatment plans
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery
• Makes astute observations of subtle - less obvious changes - both physical and emotional - in patient's condition - and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patient's response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient's care plan
• Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention
• At this grade level - the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing - and - as appropriate - modifying patient care treatment
• They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations
• Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient's needs for medication/treatments - accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and patient's response to medications/treatments received
• (This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions - promptly inform the RN or MD/DO of observed changes in patient's condition and initiate appropriate - prescribed interventions
• Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade
• Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO for appropriate team intervention and effectively intervene - as directed - to assure the continuation of optimal - safe and therapeutic patient care delivery
• Must have a broader knowledge of the patient treatment process and exercise judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate
• Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes
• 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 through active participation in committees/task forces - research projects or in developing educational materials/media
• Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice
• Possesses comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices
• serves as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care
• Serves as a role model and mentor to other nursing staff in the application of more complex technology - effectively guiding and directing their continuing practice in these areas
• Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery
• Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO
• In addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level - the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff
• 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
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: Basic Life Support Certification (BLS) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Implements the healthcare plan by performing tasks delegated by and performed under the (minimal) supervision - orders - or direction of a Registered Nurse (RN) or other licensed Provider
• Collaborates with Infection Control to ensure proper cleaning of Tele Sitter Program equipment
• Ensures patients are screened per policy for the Tele Sitter Program
• Collaborates with the Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) to ensure timely availability of equipment and resolution of any downtime
• Communicates with appropriate health care team members if there is any delay in availability of equipment and collaborates to develop a plan for timely remediation
• Actively participates in committees to facilitate communication and promote a culture of patient and employee safety and wellness
• Participates in fall prevention and reduction committees/work groups
• Participates in shared governance at the unit level by ensuring ambassadors are identified - trained - and participate in activities for Pathway of Excellence and the Magnet Journey
• Participates in monthly staff meetings with superusers - ambassadors - and Point of Service Governance (POSG) leaders and provides reporting
• Contributes to discussions regarding patient flow and performance improvement
• Collaborates with the Staff Development Specialist to develop ongoing education for all nursing staff related to the Tele Sitter Program
• Communicates expectations set forth in the Nursing Tele Sitter Policy and Hand Off Communication Policy to nursing close observation personnel staff and the Interdisciplinary Team
• Maintains a safe and clean environment under minimal supervision
• Routinely adheres to all safety and health standards - regulations - and work practices
• Uses proper protective equipment as required
• Recognizes emergent situations and responds appropriately
• Provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served - and which is appropriate to the cognitive - emotional - and chronological maturation of the patient
• Additional duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000