Licensed Practical Nurse-Patient Aligned Care Teams

The primary purpose of the Licensed Practical/License Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) is to perform assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, positive customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the Veteran. Performs within this functional statement under guidance of the Nurse Manager or designee.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• Responsible & accountable for individual nursing practice. Technically proficient in initiating, performing, & completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations. Knowledge & ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patents' conditions; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order & sequence of procedures & treatments; & to accurately recognize, report & record relevant patient information.
• Provides a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical &/or behavioral problems. Is able to perform routine evaluation of patients while in the clinic setting by obtaining current symptoms & complaints, observing the patient's condition, behavior, & response to treatments &/or medications. Documents appropriate information in the patient record & reports & significant deviations to the RN &/or provider.
• Provides effective education to patients &/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, &/or prescribed treatment regimes.
• Recognizes the need for & institutes cardiopulmonary resuscitation measures when indicated in accordance with established medical center policy & procedure. Independently performs coordinating duties related to the operation of the clinic such as ordering & maintaining supplies & medications & obtaining patient data.
• Recognizes & appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, & supply deficiencies, promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action. Performs other assignments designated by the RN or clinic providers which are essential to patient care & appropriate personnel for corrective action. Performs other assignments designated by the RN or clinic providers which are essential to patient care & appropriate to the incumbent' s level of training.
• Uses motivational interviewing techniques to guide patients to establish goals. The incumbent practices within their nursing scope of practice & functional level, demonstrating & promoting the mission of the VA & ICARE values.
• Set up or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment as applicable for all equipment for which you have been trained.
• Understand & implement the PACT model, PACT Protocols, PACT handbook VHA 1101.10(1), implements, & documents education provided to patients & families.
• Delivers safe care to assigned patients, while developing technical competencies based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice, VHA Directives, & local policies.
• Safely & effectively uses patient care equipment. Reports equipment in need of repair. Correctly & safely performs nursing procedures or seeks help when needed.
• Recognizes overt abnormal signs & symptoms &/or changes in patients condition & responds appropriately.
• Responsible for timely implementation of orders & nursing interventions.
• Requests assistance from co-workers when needed; knows when to ask for help.
• Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments, using the nursing process, based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Completes initial assessment of patient condition & response to treatment & initiates follow-up as needed.
• Assesses patient's learning needs, learning preference & readiness to learn. Develops & implements a plan to meet learning needs, instructing patients & families in basic health teaching & discharge planning.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year).
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
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)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 57289-A, 57290-A, 57291-A & 57292-A
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until July 30th, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 14th, 2026 with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.***

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. Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency [or] the National League for Nursing [Accrediting Commission], 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006. [Additional information may also be obtained from the NLNAC Website. Exceptions include:]

1. 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.
2. VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986; and for their future personnel actions under this authority. The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions.
3. Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school. See paragraph 4, section C.]

• 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 Language Proficiency: 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: In addition to the Basic Requirements, candidates must meet requirements for each grade level applied for as outlined below:

GS-03:
None beyond basic requirements.

GS-04:

• Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN.
• OR, Graduation from an approved school and one year of experience.
• OR, Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
• LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-3 grade level; however, they are expected to exercise greater judgment, require less supervision, and to operate in accordance with all established policies, procedure, and techniques.

GS-05:
Requires at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. In addition the following criteria must be met:

• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to
  patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. [Works with the RN and/or
  MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants
  (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting
  optimal patient care delivery. Provides effective education to patients and/or family members
  in relation to common disease processes, medication, and /or prescribed treatment regimes.]
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact with patients, family members, professional and supportive personnel patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice.
• 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. Observation and documentation will include patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's condition to RN or MD/DO.
• 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. Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures. However, completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review.

GS-6:
Requires at least 1 year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN. In addition the following criteria must be met:

• 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 the 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 [, cultural, spiritual, 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.

Please see additional information

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/.

• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.