Career Center

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(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 granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVN
• 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
• 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 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 5: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• AND 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
• 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
• 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
• GS 6: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent
• AND 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 and to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
• Ability to observe - identify and respond to the patient's needs for medication - equipment-assisted care and patient/family education
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• 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
• 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 seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• Preferred Experience: Telehealth experience preferred
• Must be able to understand - teach and work with new technology
• Must be a self starter and able to prioritize and manage own schedule
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is 6
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 5 to 6
• Physical Requirements: The population of male and female patients served ranges from the adult - age 18 - to the elderly adult - age 65 and over
• The San Francisco VA Health Care System is a health care facility - providing acute medical - surgical - behavioral health - physical medicine and rehabilitation - geriatric - and primary care services predominately to veterans - but in special cases - includes active duty military and civilian populations
• This position requires visual acuity (Correctable to 20/40) - hearing clear distinctive speech (correctable to 20db) - and manual dexterity to perform prescribed procedures/computer usage
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or during patient operative/invasive procedures
• 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 - and is able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Duties

• The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) expands the provision of patient care to various institutional and non-institutional settings - such as the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) - Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) - State Veteran Homes - Vet Centers - homeless shelters - Indian Health Services (IHS) - Department of Defense (DOD) and other affiliated organizations by utilizing innovative telecommunication technologies to enhance care coordination - access to care - and to routinely and proactively manage diseases to prevent healthcare crises
• These programs may include but are not limited to: Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT)
• Store and Forward (SFT)
• and VA Video Connect (VVC)
• The Telehealth Clinical Technician (TCT) LVN serves in a generalist role to support Telehealth clinical programs (mentioned above) from the patient location and across the system
• The incumbent provides a wide range of clinical and technical services that demonstrate complex technical judgment under the administrative supervision of the Connected Care Nurse Manager and/or Facility Telehealth Coordinator (FTC) - and clinical supervision from the FTC/Nurse Manager
• Duties include Tele-presenting: serving as the subject matter expert for store and forward applications (e.g
• Tele Dermatology - Tele Eye - Tele Spirometry - Sleep studies -etc.)
• supporting Veterans and providers in the use of Veterans Video Connect (VVC)
• staff and patient education activities
• equipment deployment setup and first-line troubleshooting
• scheduling support
• administrative and planning support
• and other program support duties as assigned
• The TCT LVN is a subject matter expert for all matters relating to telehealth and expected to support various clinics as needed
• Work Schedule: 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:07452F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact WLBTeam3@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized