SummaryThe Fayetteville VA Medical Center is hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse within Nursing - Perioperative. This position is aligned under the Patient Care Service- Podiatry Clinic to serve as a Nail Technician. The License Practical Nurse will function as a member of the nursing care team and assists the Registered Nurse with providing individual nursing care needs to all surgical patients.
QualificationsApplicants 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
* 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
* VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 - enacted November 21 - 1983 - and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 - enacted October 28 - 1986
* and for their future personnel actions under this authority
* Individuals 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
* English Language Proficiency: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patientcare 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following qualification criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
* GS-07 Licensed Practical Nurse Completion of at least one (1) year of qualifying experience at the GS-06 grade level
* 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
* Preferred Experience: One year of LPN experience
* Graduation from an accredited PN program
* Procedural and/or Podiatry experience
* 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-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
* 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
* The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.
Duties
- VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Licensed Practical Nurse performs more complex nursing assignments within their practice setting
- Duties include but are not limited to: Performs clinical assessments and provides various forms of non-invasive treatments through delivery of direct patient care for nail fungi - nail trimming - toenail debridement - callus and corn removal - - application of topical medications - foot soaks - and basic podiatry care within scope of work and under the supervision of the attending podiatrist
- Performs direct patient care duties with the use of medical instrumentation such as scalpels - nail cutters - curettes - tissue nippers and other required instrumentation
- Identifies significant clinical changes in patients and promptly reports findings to the assigned physician
- Applies wraps/dressings for ulcers and podiatric wound care - performs sports medicine taping for soft tissue injuries - applies foot padding for hammertoes - corns - calluses - diabetic ulcers - bunions - post-operative - and podiatric specific diseases - disorders - injuries - and preventative medicine
- Provides direct patient care utilizing podiatric medical equipment in a clinical setting to perform non-invasive procedures in the Podiatry clinic
- Performs post-operative dressing application and removal and may be instructed to remove splints and/or casts Preforms triage - vital sign measurement - and documentation upon intake
- Sets up for procedures - aids during procedures: passes medical instruments - needles - medicines - and ointments
- Completes appropriate CPRS progress notes and charting of all patient care provided - ensuring appropriate workload capture and encounter generation for treatment and visits are documented timely and accurately
- Performs administrative functions as necessary for clinical operations such as: consult management - documentation and encounter completion review - clinical chart reviews - scheduling and clinic utilization review - and other administrative management functions as necessary for effective clinical operations
- Interacts with patients - visitors - staff - students - and volunteers in a courteous - helpful - cooperative - and compassionate manner contributing to the effective operation of both the service and the Medical Center
- Identifies and reports problems which negatively impact patient treatment and/or public relations in a timely manner through appropriate supervisory channels
- Responds positively and in a timely manner to customer requests for service or information seeking to continually improve customer satisfaction
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
- When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
- 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) Telework: Ad hoc at the Supervisor's discretion
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
