Summary

The Rocky Mountain Region Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMRVAMC) Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders (SCI/D) Center provides comprehensive rehabilitative care for patients with spinal cord disorders. The goals of the program include understanding of altered body function with spinal cord injury/disorders and learning physical and social abilities to live a full - rich life.

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
• 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
• BLS: BLS certification is required
• Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State-accrediting agency and/or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) http://www.nlnac.org (copy of transcripts required) OR 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
• 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: In addition to the Basic Requirements - candidates must meet requirements for each grade level applied for as outlined below: GS-03: None beyond basic requirements
• GS-04: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• OR - Graduation from an approved school and one year of experience
• OR - Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-3 grade level
• however - they are expected to exercise greater judgment - require less supervision - and to operate in accordance with all established policies - procedure - and techniques
• GS-05: Requires at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• In addition the following criteria must be met: Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact with patients - family members - professional and supportive personnel patient care - incorporating acceptable - established customer service standards into practice
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare - administer - and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures
• Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to RN or MD/DO
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated - promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO - and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO
• Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures
• However - completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review
• GS-06: Requires at least 1 year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN
• In addition the following criteria must be met: Technically proficient 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 patient' conditions
• Ability to observe - identify - and respond to the patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment-assisted care - and patient/family education
• Prepare and administer prescribed medication (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments - promptly and accurately documenting noted changes - and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO - and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations - and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family members - and other staff
• Establish constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - and to promote positive relationships - communication - and socialization skills
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures - which include preparing the patient - 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
• Actively seek out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: SCI/D and or Rehab experience preferred 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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued standing - repetitive bend - kneeling - lifting - and other physical requirements to safely support patient's care needs and goals
• The incumbent must be able to demonstrate nursing procedures requiring technical skills
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - requiring the shifting of priorities based on emerging and changing patient/ unit needs.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Start - continue - or finish your career here | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (youtube.com) Performs a variety of supportive - nursing and medical tasks necessary to the care of patients during diagnostic and therapeutic visits to Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders Center at RMRVAMC
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems
• Performs routine evaluation of patients while in the clinic setting by obtaining current symptoms and complaints - observing the patient's condition - behavior - and response to treatments and/or medications
• Documents appropriate information in the patient record and reports significant deviations to the RN and/or provider
• Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes - medication - and/or prescribed treatment regimes
• Recognizes the need for and institutes cardiopulmonary resuscitation measures when indicated in accordance with established medical center policy and procedure
• Performs other assignments designated by the RN or clinic providers which are essential to patient care and appropriate to the incumbent's level of training
• Serves as the scheduler for the clinic and is responsible for triaging all telephone calls - responding appropriately - greeting visitors - and responding to their needs
• Reviews schedules and ensures clinic slots are managed appropriately to maximize capacity making schedule changes - as necessary
• Performs a variety of administrative and clerical tasks to include completion of memos - reports - meeting minutes - power point presentations - excel spread sheets - and filing
• Observes workflow - guides patients through hospital system - inputs referrals - documents complaints - provides follow-up and suggests resolutions to supervisor
• Possesses the ability to collaborate - communicate - set priorities - and organize the work in order to meet deadlines - ensuring compliance with established processes - policies - meetings and training sections
• Independently performs coordinating duties related to the operation of the clinic such as ordering and maintaining supplies and medications and obtaining patient data
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• Adheres to Safe Patient Handling and Mobility policies and procedures
• Follows Life Safety Management (fire protection) procedures
• Reports safety hazards - accidents - and injuries
• Reviews hazardous materials/Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/waste management
• Follows Emergency Preparedness plan
• Follows security policies/procedures
• Complies with federal - state and local environmental and other requirements preventing pollution - minimizing waste - and conserving cultural and natural resources
• Demonstrates infection control practices for disease prevention (i.e
• hand washing - universal precautions/isolation procedures - including TB - MRSA - CDIFF and MDRO requirements/precautions)
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 51467-0 - 51468-0 - 51469-0 & 51470-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized