LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSE II

Job Description:

LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSE II

Description

Position/Program Information

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT
OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY

EXAM NUMBER
Y5105U

FILING START DATE
3/14/2022 at 8:00 A.M. (PT)

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to close without prior notice.


ABOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. Through its integrated system of 25 health centers and four (4) acute hospitals - and expanded network of community partner clinics - DHS annually provides direct care for 600,000 unique patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $6.9 billion.

Through academic affiliations with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences (CDU), DHS hospitals are training sites for physicians completing their Graduate Medical Education in nearly every medical specialty and subspecialty. In addition to its direct clinical services, DHS also runs the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency and the County's 911 emergency response system, as well as Housing for Health and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, each with a critical role in connecting vulnerable populations, including those released from correctional and institutional settings, to supportive housing.
For additional information regarding DHS, please visit www.dhs.lacounty.gov .
MISSION:
To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care.

DEFINITION:
Provides highly skilled vocational nursing care involving a wide format of treatments and evaluative judgment to patients in a hospital inpatient care unit; or, in addition to performing direct patient care, has responsibility for guiding nursing personnel in a hospital impatient care unit.

Essential Job Functions

• In some specialized jobs performs the following duties: Monitors the operation of specialized equipment set up by a physician or nurse-in-charge such as renal dialysis machines, regulating venous and dialysate pressure from verbal instructions, monitoring gauges and alerting the nurse-in-charge when readings and observations of the patient indicate an abnormal condition. Performs specialized procedures such as peritoneal dialysis, adding prescribed medication in the dialysate solution, introducing and draining the solution in accordance with precise procedures.
  
• Provides emotional support to the patient, displaying empathy and interest in the patient's progress, being aware of and encouraging special aptitudes for the patient's rehabilitation.
  
• Obtains and provides information on patients at change of shift briefings with nursing personnel, and in contacts with doctors. Reports on significant incidents involving nursing personnel, patients and others.
  
• Leads a small group of nursing personnel in the medication, treatment and nursing care of all patients in a medical, surgical or rehabilitation ward, major section of a ward or similar impatient care unit.
  
• Recognizes the need for emergency care; initiates life saving action in emergencies and alerts the nurse-in-charge or physician.
  
• Sets up, operates and monitors electronic and/or mechanical equipment such as croupettes, oxygen therapy and suctioning equipment. Monitors the functioning of intravenous apparatus and cardioscopes.
  
• Administers medications by injection, orally and other predetermined methods with the exception of research drugs and others as determined by the Medical Department. Checks prescribed dosages against specified limits. Observes and reports adverse reaction to medication.
  
• Provides bedside care such as maintaining personal hygiene, providing comfort and safety, performing urgent housekeeping tasks to maintain a clean and safe environment, and taking measures to prevent pressure sores and other infirmities endemic to bedridden patients.
  
• Measures and records vital signs; records bed care procedures, treatments, medications and nourishment provided and output. Observes and reports on manifest behavior and condition of patients.
  
• Gives eye and ear irrigations and instillations. Cleans, debrides, medicates and applies dressings to wounds, using sterile technique.
  
• Teaches isolation technique to patients and visitors. Prevents spread of infection using principles of asepsis.
  
• Scheduling and assigning work to nursing employees, checking to ensure completion, charting and recording of assigned tasks, and checking the quality in which tasks are performed.
  
• Lays out appropriate instruments and supplies, and assists the physician performing medical and surgical procedures.

Requirements

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
1. Three (3) years of experience at the level of Licensed Vocational Nurse* in a hospital inpatient care unit.

-AND-

2. A license to practice as a Vocational Nurse issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs, California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.**

-AND-

3. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare providers (CPR and AED) program certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA).***

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION INFORMATION:
California license to practice vocational nursing.

**Applicants must complete the License and Certification Section the number(s), date(s) of issue, date(s) of expiration and the name(s) of the issuing agency for the required license as specified in the Selection Requirements. The required license MUST be current/active and unrestricted ; a conditional, provisional, probationary or restricted license or certification will NOT be accepted.

The required license to practice as a Vocational Nurse issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs, California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians will be verified at the following website: http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/

***Applicants MUST attach a legible photocopy of the required BLS certification to their application at the time of filing or provide a copy to the Exam Analyst within 15 calendar days from the application filing date. Applications submitted without the required evidence of BLS certification will be rejected.

PHYSICAL CLASS III- Moderate:
Includes standing or walking most of the time, with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching; includes working on irregular surfaces, occasionally lifting objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
* Experience must be post-license only.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Credit will be given to applicants who possess:

• Additional years of experience as Licensed Vocational Nurse beyond the Selection Requirements.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
This examination will consist of an evaluation of training and experience based upon the application information, desirable qualifications, and supplemental questionnaire, weighted 100%.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination to be added onto the eligible register.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
Applications will be processed on an "as-received" basis and those receiving a passing score will be added to the eligible register accordingly.

The names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be added to the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility.

NO PERSON MAY COMPETE IN THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS.

SPECIAL INFORMATION :
Appointees may be required to work any shift including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
The resulting eligible register will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Health Services as they occur.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY U.S. MAIL, FAX OR IN PERSON WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Applicants may be required/prompted to verify their email address when logging on to file an application. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com.careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This feature is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Applications electronically received after 5:00 p.m., PST, on the last day of filing will not be accepted.

You may be required to verify your email address before the application can be submitted. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

All information is subject to verification. We may reject your application at any time during the examination and hiring process, including after appointment has been made. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment.

Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification and Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED.

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met. Application filing may be suspended at any time with or without advance notice.
Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the REQUIREMENTS. Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. DO NOT GROUP YOUR EXPERIENCE. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected.

NOTE: If you are unable to attach required documents at the time of filing your online application, email the documents to the Exam Analyst, Balik Sarkissian, at bsarkissian@dhs.lacounty.gov within fifteen (15) calendar days of filing online. Please include your full name (as it appears on your application), the exam number, and the exam title.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
LA County Public Library has announced they are reopening some libraries with limited hours access throughout LA County. Refer to their website at https://lacountylibrary.org/reopening/ for more information.

For Candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individual assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed .

ADA COORDINATOR PHONE :
(323) 914-6365

CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICES PHONE :
(800) 735-2922

DEPARTMENT CONTACT :
Balik Sarkissian, Exam Analyst
(213) 288-7000
bsarkissian@dhs.lacounty.gov

For detailed information, please click here

Salary:

$53,450.16 - $72,033.84 Annually