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The Licensed Practical Nurse in this position is under the Home Based Primary Care Service aligned with the Ambulatory Care Line. This position will be located at the Watertown Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The incumbent in this position has the knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and self-direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing care assignments, including assignment for selected acute care, long term or ambulatory care, or psychiatric patients requiring skilled nursing care. Serves as a member of the health care team with these patients and provides care to them on a regular basis. Completes assigned duties and responsibilities which involve performing non-standard and specialized practical nursing activities at the GS-6 level, requiring broad work experience and demonstrated skill sufficient to resolve a range of nursing problems. Some of the duties include, but are not limited to:

• Follows established policies, procedures, protocols, and uses sound nursing principles in the delivery of patient care.
• Interacts with patients appropriately.
• Works cooperatively with others.
• Documents patient observations and care.
• Communicates information to other members of the health care team to facilitate holistic care.
• Functions in a dependable, reliable and safe manner in the performance of nursing care.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with patients, visitors and staff in a courteous and respectful manner.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 1^st Shift 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/23/2020.

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 Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency (or) the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Website http://www.acenursing.org.
• 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.

A clean and valid drivers license is required for this position.

Preferred Experience: The preferred experience would be in homecare.

Grade Determinations: GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements;
GS-4: 6 months of qualifying experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse equivalent to a GS-3 level.
GS-5: At least 2 years of qualifying experience (Federal or non-Federal) one of which would be considered equivalent to
level work as a LPN. This experience would have been gained in a critical care or similar advanced care environment.
GS-6: At least 3 years of qualifying experience (Federal or non-Federal) one of which would be considered equivalent to the GS-5 level work as indicated above. This experience must have demonstrated that the candidate possesses the knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. One year of this experience must have been performing higher level duties in clinical areas as referred to in level 5. Prefer at least one year of experience in a Nursing Home or long term care center. Demonstrates the ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' condition(s), uses judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; and accurately recognizes, reports and records relevant patient information.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix 13

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: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. The Syracuse Veterans Administration Medical Center is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility, serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients. There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co-morbidities. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires driving to patient's homes, periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, and sitting. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will recommend grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.