Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse I/II/III and Per Diem Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse

Description

Under the clinical supervision of a Physician, Advanced Practice Provider (APP), or Registered Nurse, is responsible to assist in an assigned Health Care Agency (HCA) ambulatory care clinic in auxiliary patient care within the scope of vocational nursing practice in the State of California.

Distinguishing Characteristics: 

The Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse III is distinguished from other staff Licensed Vocational Nurse classifications in that incumbents demonstrate advanced competency skills reflecting specialized knowledge specific to the assigned clinical area or specialty. Incumbents are expected to work at the full scope of their licensure/specialty area with a decreasing amount of clinical supervision commensurate with their experience. 

The Per Diem Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse is distinguished from the Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse series in that Per Diem Nurses are scheduled to work on an as-needed basis (intermittent) to supplement staffing needs.

APPROXIMATE SALARIES: 

Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse I: $29.89 – $30.57 per hour

Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse II: $36.52 – $38.22 per hour

Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse III: $39.93 – $42.55 per hour

Per Diem Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse: $29.24 – $32.15 per hour

Regular employees in this position may also be eligible to receive additional pay to their hourly rate for the following: 

• Educational Incentive: 2.5% for completion of an associate degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor’s degree, or 5% for completion of a Master’s degree.
• Bilingual Incentive: Premium pay determined by examination based on proficiency level: $0.65 per hour (Level I), $0.80 per hour (Level II), or $0.90 per hour (Level III).
• Evening Shift Differential – 7.5%
• Certification Pay: Incumbents in this classification are eligible for certification pay at a rate of $0.813 per hour based on his or her scheduled work week hours and not to exceed the scheduled work week hours for each qualified certification possessed up to a maximum of five (5) certifications.

Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse I/II/III and Per Diem Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse are represented by the California Nurses Association (CNA) and are eligible for overtime compensation. Salary placement will be determined according to the current CNA memorandum of agreement.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Per Diem Pool, Intermittent, and Extra-Help vacancies within the Primary Care Clinics for the Health Care Agency’s Ambulatory Care department.

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further exam upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE 

OPENING DATE: February 28, 2024 

CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Performs patient care functions and initiates appropriate nursing interventions as outlined in standards of care and the individual patient care plan in support of professional staff.
• Actively participates in assigned patient care team duties and activities, including pre-visit planning, identifying gaps in care, health maintenance needs, and team huddles.
• Participates in schedule management procedures to support optimization of schedules.
• Administers medications as ordered by the physician or APP.
• Performs basic assessments (data collection) and documents variances.
• Depending on assignment, may transcribe physician’s orders, including telephone and/or verbal orders, and take necessary steps to ensure completion.
• Safeguards patient’s health and safety by reporting abuse and neglect, maintaining patient confidentiality, and maintaining current skill and knowledge of safe and competent patient care.
• May perform Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-waivered testing after obtaining and maintaining annual competency.
• Performs intake, including vitals and patient measurements, such as height weight, blood pressure, temperature, head circumference, body length, pulse, and oxygen saturation.
• Administers immunizations. Verifies immunizations and dosage for medical assistants administering vaccines per physician or advanced practice provider written or standing orders.
• Performs routine patient care procedures such as dipstick urinalysis, midstream clean catch, sterile urine dip and spin, dressing changes, venipuncture, finger sticks, electrocardiogram, hearing test, vision test (Snellen and Ishihara), anterior and Nasopharyngeal swabs, monofilament testing, and throat swab.
• Prepares patient and exam room for exam, treatment, and/or procedures and serves as chaperone or assists as needed.
• Ensures appropriate documentation in the electronic medical record.
• Collects and prepares specimens, including blood, urine, stool, and sputum.
• Coordinates patient care by following up on orders, including referrals to ancillary and specialty services.
• Maintains clean and safe patient areas. Demonstrates adherence to and observes all safety policies and procedures, inclusive of infection control rules and regulations.
• Answers telephones and takes messages, reviews portal messages and routes as appropriate, and completes assigned tasks to ensure patient needs are addressed.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patents served (infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics)
• Attends meetings and trainings as required.
• Ability to work with high volume of patients, internal/external customers, and appropriately adapt to frequent changes, delay or unexpected events.
• Demonstrates cultural sensitivity and competence with patients.
• Communicate with diverse patients regarding disease prevention, health maintenance, community resources, and physician instructions.
• Provides continuing education for health self-management.
• Administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation in an emergency.
• Reports patient safety incidents to supervisor and via the patient safety reporting software.
• May participate with registered nurse in developing nursing care plans, maintenance of patients’ records, and patient education duties.
• Performs duties within scope of vocational nursing practice in the State of California.
• May perform or provide preoperative preparation.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

In addition to the duties listed above, the Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse II level may include:

• Performs catheter insertions and irrigations.
• May insert, maintain, and discontinue non-medicated intravenous therapy.
• Provides clinical support to assigned clinical work area.
• May assist in interviewing new clinical support staff.
• Supports quality improvement efforts.
• Properly handles vaccine and medication ordering and storage.
• Assists with training on workflows and duties.

In addition to the duties listed above, the Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse III level may include: 

• Participates in performance improvement processes; and provide clinical and technical direction.
• Provides clinical lead support and supervision to clinical support staff in assigned clinical work area.
• Monitors and may supervise the work of medical assistants, nursing assistants, and other licensed vocational nurses.
• Coordinates clinical support staff coverage with management.
• Leads care team huddles.
• May assist in interviewing and onboarding new clinical support staff.
• Assists in implementing workflows that support quality improvement efforts.
• Oversees proper handling of vaccine and medication ordering and storage.
• Ensures clinical support staff is up to date with necessary training and competencies; and
• Provides training on workflows and duties.

In addition to the duties listed above, the Per Diem Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse level may include:

• May perform deep endotracheal suction, gavage/gastrostomy feedings, and tracheostomy care.
• May insert, maintain, change, or discontinue non-medicated intravenous therapy and associated tubing after obtaining and maintaining the required certification.
• May use mechanical lifts in moving patients.

Typical Qualifications

These are the entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and EXPERIENCE: 

Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse I 

Requires six (6) months of full-time licensed vocational nurse experience in a health care setting.

Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse I incumbents are expected to progress toward Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational II by obtaining one (1) year of full-time licensed vocational nursing experience in a health care setting and completing the established competencies set by the Ambulatory Care Nursing Administration for the Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse I.

Advancement to the Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse II may be based on the meeting the criteria above and at the initiation of Ambulatory Care Nursing Administration.

Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse II 

Requires one (1) year of full-time licensed vocational nursing experience in a health care setting and completion of the Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse I competencies established by the Ambulatory Care Nursing Administrator.

Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse III

Requires five (5) years of full-time licensed vocational nursing experience in a health care setting that includes at least two (2) years of full-time licensed vocational nursing experience comparable to that obtained in an ambulatory care clinic in the Health Care Agency. 

Per Diem Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse 

Requires one (1) year of full-time licensed vocational nursing experience in a health care setting that includes at least six (6) months of full-time licensed vocational nursing experience comparable to that obtained at the Ventura County Medical Center in the Health Care Agency. 

Necessary Special Requirements: 

• Possession of a current valid license as a Vocational Nurse issued by the State of California.
• Successful completion of the pharmacology examination within three (3) months of employment.
• Assignments in which employees are expected to start and superimpose intravenous fluids require possession of an Intravenous Therapy Certification from the California Board of Nursing. (Primary Care Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse II, III and Per Diem Clinic Licensed Vocational Nurse)

DESIRED: 

CLIA waived testing annual competency. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Working to thorough knowledge of: the techniques and practices of nursing; medical terminology, routines, and equipment; the role in abuse/neglect reporting; and confidentiality policies.

Skill in: the transcription of physician’s orders, including telephone/verbal orders and the completion of those orders; and performing CLIA waivered testing.

Demonstrated ability to: apply a variety of techniques, methods and procedures utilizing required equipment for patient care.

Ability to: administer medications as ordered by physicians; follow agency and unit policies and instructions as given; establish and maintain the confidence of patients; maintain confidentiality of patient/client information; work effectively in different healthcare and/or hospital departments or shifts as required; establish and maintain effective interpersonal relations with other staff members, patients, and their families; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Supplemental Information: 

• May require working in various departments and/or a variety of shifts.
• Bilingual skills may be required depending on area of assignment.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. 

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/hr. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials. Our address is: County of Ventura, Human Resources Division, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Loc. # 1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant’s qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire will result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION – Pass/Fail: An application evaluation will be conducted to determine whether each applicant possesses the required licensure and certification for this recruitment. Those candidates who do will be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year. 

LATERAL TRANSFER OPTION: If presently permanently employed in another “merit” or “civil service” public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a “merit” or “civil service” style examination, then appointment by “Lateral Transfer” may be possible. If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

For more information about this recruitment, please contact Kristy Madrigal by e-mail at kristy.madrigal@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 654-2556.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. 

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721)

(SEIU)

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ’s (Download PDF reader)
• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ, UPP, UPT, UWS

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