Clarification from the agency

First area of consideration - Current Permanent West Palm Beach employees including Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Second area of consideration - Current permanent VA Nationwide employees. Third area of consideration the Public. NOTE: Veteran's Preference is not applicable to VA Employees or employees of other Federal agencies but will be applied to all other applicants.

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Duties include but not limited to:

• Responsible for performing direct and indirect care for patients with known or suspected gastrointestinal problems or who are undergoing therapeutic and investigative procedures.
• Set up and breakdown of endoscopy equipment/instrumentation and supplies,.
• Provides a clean and safe patient care environment.
• Provides technical support.
• Anticipates the needs and communicates effectively with all endoscopy team members.
• Properly positions patients prior, during and after procedures, collection, labeling and recording of specimens.
• Accountable for RME/scope troubleshooting.
• Responsible for performing safety checks, cleaning, disinfecting, or calibrating scopes or other endoscopic equipment and supplies.
• Perform peripheral vein for IV insertion, phlebotomy, 12 Lead EKG, vital signs, Point of Care glucose testing, and timely and safe patient transport.
• Assists in administrative functions of the Unit which include receiving phone calls and visitors, patient and procedure scheduling, admitting patients pre-procedure, pre and post procedure education, competing encounters, maintain Infection Control surveillance and collecting Performance Improvement data.
• Position requires fulfillment of a fair rotation in the on-call assignment.

The VA West Palm Beach Healthcare System provides you with outstanding health care, trains America's future health care providers, and conducts important medical research. Facilities include our Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center, VA operated clinics in Port St. Lucie and Delray and 5 community-based outpatient clinics in Boca Raton, Fort Pierce, Okeechobee, Stuart, and Vero Beach. To learn more about the services each location offers, visit the VA West Palm Beach health services page. The VA West Palm Beach Healthcare System includes a 108-bed community living center (nursing home) and a 13-bed blind rehabilitation service, which is the referral center for blind and visually impaired Veterans throughout Florida.

The VA West Palm Beach Healthcare System is one of the leading health care systems serving Veterans in the VA Sunshine Health Care Network. We're an innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 (VISN 8), which includes medical centers and clinics in Florida, Georgia, and the Caribbean.

Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards
Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
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)
Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday, 8 hour staggered, with on call weekends and holiday.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Conditions of employment

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) and 7407(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
  • Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986. OR
  • Individual granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school.
• 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.

Qualifications

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

GS-06 - Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN.

• 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 patients' conditions; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; and to accurately recognize, report and record relevant patient information. Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures.
• Ability to observe, identify, and respond to a patient's needs for care including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education. In organizing and delivering care, the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional, socio-economic, and age-related factors.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (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.
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members, and/or other internal/external customers.
• 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. Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex, specialized tests/procedures.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.

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, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.