Vocational Nurse (Specialty)

Description:

The GS-7 Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) provides comprehensive practical nursing care in specialty clinics at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Duties include performing complex diagnostic procedures, administering medications, and assisting with surgical procedures. The LVN demonstrates proficiency in caring for patients with chronic and acute conditions, utilizes clinical judgment, and follows safety protocols.

Requirements:

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.

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-07

• Completion of at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-6 LVN/LPN.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties, including assignments in selected, 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.
• Ability to make astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes, both physical and emotional, in patient's condition, and accurately document care delivered and patient's response to care.
• 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.
• Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations and effectively intervene, as directed, to assure the continuation of optimal, safe and therapeutic patient care delivery.
• Ability to assist individuals or groups of patients and their families in taking an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes.
• 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 nonmedical staff in patient care delivery.
• Ability to perform work of considerable difficulty and responsibility under general supervision, exercising independent technical judgments and applying comprehensive working knowledge of practical nursing principles.

Preferred Experience:

• Requires current BLS provider card.
• Experience in ambulatory clinic settings.
• Experience in specialty procedures.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/3The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07.

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.