Summary The Dayton, Ohio VA Medical Center, Clinic Practice Management Department is looking for a Telehealth Technician, Licensed Practical Nurse to provide 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. Responsibilities Major Duties: Provides a wide range of clinical and technical services to the veteran that demonstrates the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision), and a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN), Physician, or Licensed Independent Provider Serves as a leader for Nursing and Telehealth services with duties including possessing the knowledge and skills to carry out more specialized patient care duties to patients in a more complex outpatient care setting, serving as the site imager for Telehealth store and forward applications, facilitator for real time Clinical Video Telehealth(CVT) encounters, including patient education activities, Primary Care as well as specialty care remote visits, and providing equipment for the Care Coordination Home Telehealth (CCHT) program Provides technical and scheduling support, and other program support duties Support Nursing and Telehealth clinical programs from the patient location Provides nursing care for adults with population specific needs by incorporating pertinent physical, psychosocial, and cultural needs into the patient plan of care. 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 Demonstrates nursing practice with remote supervision of a RN, physician, or licensed independent provider. Collaborates with and supports the RN, physician, or licensed independent provider with appropriately prioritizing the overall patient care needs and adjusts plans for care delivery, when met with control, resistant behaviors, or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions Contributes to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction through participation in committees, evidence-based practice, research, and/or developing educational materials/media. Retains comprehensive practice nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices (Telehealth) and serves as a resource for other staff inorganizing and implementing this specialized care. Role model and mentor for Telehealth to other nursing staff for more complex technology Responsible for any patient, staff education/training, documentation, and assistance with workload capture that is basic for the completion of the visit and/ or training. The LPN TCT proactively assists in patient care under the direct supervision of an independent licensed healthcare provider. The LPN TCT can be crossed-trained to perform a range of direct care duties that may include, collecting vital signs and other clinical components of a primary care visit as directed by policy or clinic standard. The LPN TCT conducts quality control procedures on equipment and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports and workload reporting Responsible for the day-to-day operation of the clinical video conferencing, training, CCHT, SF, My Health E Vet and Telehealth clinics Performs personal care, diagnostic support duties and treatments according to procedure with minimal direction from the professional nurse Responds to patient's nursing needs, including physical comfort, and emotional needs recognizing deviations from the normal Involve patients and family to participate in the provision of care throughout the continuum Collaborates with the Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) and Specialty Care teams as needed when providing care Provides direct nursing care to patients based on individualized plan of care, reinforces teaching and written instructions initiated by their health care providers Demonstrates support in meeting clinical objectives, organizational measures, and achieving desired outcomes for identified goals. Provides Observation, Reporting and Documentation to make astute observations of subtle, less obvious changes, both physical and emotional, in patient's condition Accurately and thoroughly document the care delivered and the patient's response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient's care plan Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN, MD/DO, and/or licensed independent provider of changes in patient's condition requiring higher-level intervention Participates in Health Care Team meetings. Instructs patients and family members on principles of health, self-care, and protocols for treatments and/or medications May be required to travel between VA and/or Non-VA clinical care sites, as a result, the possession of a valid driver's license is required. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: Not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91739-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 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. 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. Exception: 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. 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: 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: Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs. YOUR RESUME MUST CLEARLY CONVEY THAT YOU MEET ALL BELOW LISTED KSAs AT THIS GRADE LEVEL: a. 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. b. 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. c. 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. d. 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. e. 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. f. 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. g. 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. h. Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical 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. i. 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. j. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice. Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part 11, Appendix G-13.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7. Physical Requirements: The work is somewhat sedentary, but at times requires some physical exertion such as periods of standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, walking, and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals, record boxes, equipment, and assisting patients. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. Note: If your school was accredited at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the ACEN, CCNE, or DAPIP website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. (Please verify, failure to do so can result in an ineligible rating.) Additional Information VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. 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. 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.