Restorative Licensed Practical Nurse

Summary The Restorative Licensed Practical Nurse demonstrates unit / department specific competencies, and competency in caring for adult and geriatric residents.

Patients receiving care in the long term care settings, are being treated for any number of medical and psychological conditions.

Given the nature of their disease process patients may express intent to harm either themselves or others (suicidal or homicidal ideations) or exhibit behaviors that place the patient at risk for harm or elopement.

Responsibilities This position is open to current permanent employees of the Syracuse VA Medical Center and associated community-based outpatient clinics only.

The Restorative Licensed Practical Nurse provides care to the patient under the direction of the RN assigned to care for the patient.

The restorative LPN GS-7, community living center, has met standards for this position as outlined in the Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse qualification standard, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Handbook 5005, part II, Appendix G13.

The employee has the knowledge and skills necessary for demonstrating consistently independent clinical judgement, possessing a thorough work knowledge of complex practices and procedures and restorative nursing modalities.

The LPN GS-7 serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team. The employee completes assigned duties and responsibilities which involve practical nurse activities at the GS-6 level.

In addition, they are responsible for staff education and implementation of restorative nursing modalities to the Veterans residing on the Community Living Center.

The LPN GS-7 : Will have completed an additional year of qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN.

Lists the major duties and responsibilities of the position : 1. Explains procedures to residents, using language which they understand and displaying consideration of individual resident needs.

2. Exercising skill in influencing and communicating with residents and or families the individual goals utilizing restorative nursing modalities to improve or maintain physical functioning.

3. Serve as a role model / mentor to other nursing staff in the application of restorative nursing modalities by assisting staff in understanding set resident goals and influencing procedural follow through on all three shifts.

4. Support the Nurse Manager in monitoring the practice of non-licensed staff in restorative care delivery. 5. Participates in quality measures associated with restorative nursing modalities.

Examples include toileting and ambulation. 6. Assisting the restorative nurse in the daily resident progress based on his / her restorative plan of care and promptly reporting changes.

7. Actively seeking educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, and providing leadership in assisting other staff to improve and advance their nursing practice.

8. Provides restorative training sessions to nursing staff on all three shifts to improve and enhance the quality of nursing care.

9. Ensures that the physical and emotional environment is consistent with the vision for resident-centered care. 10. Maintains self-control and responds consistently to the requirements of the work situation.

11. Communicates respectfully and works effectively with administrative staff, the health care team, unit staff, residents, and visitors.

12. Provides emotional support to residents, and families / significant others to assist them in adjusting to changes brought about by illness or change in health status.

Establishes constructive relationship with individual residents to elicit feelings and attitudes and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills.

Hospice / Palliative care needs are supported as needed based on resident self-determination. 13. Fosters an environment of respect for individual resident and family / significant other rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery.

Serves as Veteran's / family / significant others' advocate. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with residents, family members / significant others and / or internal / external customers.

14. Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and self-direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing assignments, including assignments for, long-term, short-term rehabilitation, respite, hospice / palliative care, and psychiatric residents requiring skilled nursing care.

15. Demonstrates ability to use judgment in selecting the most appropriate application of procedures and guidelines, varying the order and sequence of assigned procedures based on the resident's condition.

Completed work needs only a general review by a RN for technical soundness, appropriateness and conformity with policy and nursing assignments.

16. Observes and documents resident changes in condition; examples such as bleeding, vomiting, fainting, skin changes, behavioral concerns, etc.

to the Charge Nurse or RN. 17. Promptly reports untoward patient incidents; examples medication errors, falls, etc. to Charge Nurse / Nursing Supervisor, and initiates incident report.

Work Schedule : Rotating shifts / weekends and holidays. Telework : Not available. Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report : Not required. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.

S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959.

Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background / security investigation.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11 / 13 / 2024.

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.

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 patient care 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 : 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.

Knowledge base 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 levels.

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.

At this grade level, the LPN / LVN 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.

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.

This includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervision. 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 to serve 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 nonmedical 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.

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.

References : VA HANDBOOK 5005 / 3 APRIL 10, 2003 PART II APPENDIX G13 The full performance level of this vacancy is 7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 7.

Physical Requirements : See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Education IMPORTANT : A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note : Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.

You can verify your education here : If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

For further information, visit : Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.

e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.

The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.