Summary

This position is for a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for the Durham VA Medical Center in Durham - Clayton - NC. The LPN is to support the Durham Medical Center ambulatory care setting. The LPN will work directly under the general supervision of a Registered Nurse. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

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.

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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS-03 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-04 (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• or(b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) 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 (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• GS-05 Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Ability to serve as a responsible member of a nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients - family members - professional and/or other support personnel involved in the delivery of patient care
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare - administer - and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous medications
• This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting noted changes in the patient's condition
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardia and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies
• GS-06 Proficiency in initiating - performing - and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions - using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments - and accurately recognizing - reporting - and recording relevant patient information
• Ability to observe - identify - and response to a patient's needs for care including medication - equipment-assisted care - and patient/family education
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• Observes for - documents - and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directed
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations and the ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family members and other staff
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures - which includes preparing the patient and 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
• Preferred Qualifications A minimum of two years successful nursing practice
• One-year recent experience in the outpatient primary care/internal medicine setting
• Previous experience with Dermatology - ENT - Ortho and/or Surgery Clinics
• Demonstrated ability to work well with patients/families and with other health care professionals
• Computer skills and typing proficiency sufficient to permit real-time documentation of patient encounters
• Preferred Level of Education LPN or LVN Preferred Certifications Gerontology Certified Urology

Duties

• The Durham/Clayton Outpatient Clinics maintains the health and manages the care for patients with a variety of medical problems including hypertension - diabetes - arthritis - cancer - congestive heart failure and other chronic diseases
• The clinic is designed to provide comprehensive primary care services - including gender specific care to male and female veterans
• Limited Dermatology care is provided by Dermatology providers
• The clinic is staffed by providers (attending physicians - mid-level providers) - registered nurses - licensed practical nurses - pharmacists - social workers and medical support assistants
• The LPN has an encounter with patients on each visit for screening - education and referrals
• Using protocols - nursing staff can order tests - lab work - enter consult requests and administer immunizations
• PT-INR Clinic
• a Pharmacy based clinic is available to provide care and monitoring for stable patients receiving anti-coagulation therapy
• Medication management is provided by the clinical Pharmacist
• Nurse visits provide care for patient issues not requiring a provider appointment - for example such as blood pressure checks - blood sugar monitoring - medication administration - immunizations - ear irrigations and education related to disease/self-management and equipment
• The LPN will work under the direction of the RN and report to the Ambulatory Care Nurse Manager
• He or she will perform - report and record assigned nursing care in the Primary Care Clinics - including - but not limited to: Assisting with minor procedures - including obtaining and arranging necessary equipment - positioning patients - ensuring comfort and privacy - monitoring patient during the procedure Provision of direct nursing care to patients with an emphasis on patient teaching - care coordination and interventions such EKGs and phlebotomy Documentation of care activities Perform procedures - treatments and delegated tasks Medication administration and oxygen therapy Clinical reminders with appropriate consults and alerts as indicated Cleaning and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment Work Schedule: -Monday-Friday - 8 hour tours between 0700-1800- occasional Saturdays Telework: NO Travel: NO Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): NO