Licensed Practical Nurse

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.

The West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) to serve within our Primary Care Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). The GS-7 PACT LPN functions as an integral member of an interdisciplinary team that includes a provider, RN, LPN, and administrative staff. This position requires advanced practical nursing knowledge, independent technical judgment, and the ability to manage complex patient care needs with minimal supervision.

Major Duties:
- Provide complex and specialized nursing care to veterans with diverse medical, psychosocial, and age-specific needs.
- Perform and document comprehensive nursing assessments; recognize subtle changes in patient condition and take appropriate action.
- Assist with triage, intake, health maintenance visits, chronic disease management, care coordination, and panel management for a patient panel of approximately 1200 veterans.
- Prepare and administer medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and limited IV per facility policy). Monitor for and report medication effects, contraindications, or adverse reactions.
- Perform specialized procedures such as wound care, suture removal, ear irrigation, venipuncture, specimen processing, and diagnostic test support.
- Independently prioritize workload and modify nursing interventions based on patient needs, clinical findings, and established protocols.
- Support urgent and emergent situations by recognizing symptoms (e.g., chest pain, respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, seizures) and initiating prompt interventions.
- Participate in quality improvement, data analysis, performance metrics, and evidence-based practice initiatives within the clinic.
- Provide patient and family education on medications, disease processes, diagnostic tests, health promotion, and self-management strategies.
- Serve as a resource, role model, and preceptor for new LPN staff; participate in PACT huddles, committee work, and process improvement activities.
- Complete accurate and timely documentation using CPRS/VISTA; maintain compliance with all VA, TJC, and infection control standards.
- Support coordination of care during transitions between inpatient and outpatient settings, including timely follow-up calls after discharge.
- Order supplies, initiate consults per expanded LPN scope, and support panel management tasks aligned with PACT goals.
- Maintain compliance with safety, security, HIPAA, RME, and environmental stewardship practices.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 40972F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact V8_EDRP_WPB@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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: Must be a US Citizen - (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.
  • Exceptions:
    • Health care education or training in the military service
    • 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
    • Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• 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.
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following qualification criteria must be met for the GS-07 grade level.The GS-07 grade level is for select, complex LPN positions, as established by each health care facility. To be advanced, employees must meet all of the following standards, provided the standard is part of their assignment.

NOTE: Determinations concerning placement of positions at this grade level shall take into consideration the skill mix and the availability of supervision in the work unit. Although these positions are under the supervision of an RN and/or MD/DO, employees in such settings successfully and consistently demonstrate the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision), as well as a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures. Such individuals may also serve as leaders or co-leaders in a nursing unit or for a specifically identified group of patients.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).

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS07.

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.
• 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).
• 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.