Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. citizens. *** If you ARE a current permanent federal employee, please apply to the Internal Announcement CBSU-12526453-24-MJR***

Videos

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Licensed Practical Nurse - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-LPN-Career-Flyer.pdf

Major Duties and Responsibilities of the Position

• Applies the PACT principles utilizing the nursing process and evidence-based practice to collaborate with the Teamlet (Patient, Primary Care Provider [PCP], Registered Nurse [RN] Care Manager, Clinical Associate, and Clerical Associate) and expanded Team (family/caregiver, internal and community-based services involved in providing care to the patient) in developing the patient-driven care plan for life. LPN is a member of the Teamlet team.
• Collaborates with services internal and external to the VA to facilitate care transition to effectively meet the patients' needs.
• Provides patient and family health education with a focus on self-management, prevention, and wellness, based on the patient's goals.
• Demonstrates leadership by serving as an advocate for patients and a team leader with colleagues as she/he continues to enhance his/her own and the team's professional growth, development and practice.
• Practices according to the Primary Care Handbook (VHA Handbook 1101.10) and VHA Directive 1406, Patient Centered Management Module (PCMM) for Primary Care. He/she provides Health Coaching to enhance the patient's wellbeing and achieve their related health-related goals per VHA Handbook 1120.02, Health Promotion and Disease prevention Core Program Requirements.
• Provides Health Education as defined in VHA Handbook 1120.04, Veterans Health Education and Information Core to enhance the quality of life through health promotion and disease prevention, actively partner with their health care teams and engage needed family and social support systems while developing self-management and coping skills and utilizing appropriate VHA health care resources.
• Establishes Home Telehealth monitoring using case management principles to coordinate care using health informatics, disease management, and telehealth technologies to facilitate access to care and to improve the health of Veterans to improve clinical outcomes.
• Provides personalized, proactive, patient-driven health care.
• Provides patient-driven engagement with the patient being the source of control, ensuring that their health care is based on their needs, values, and life preferences.
• Builds a relationship between the patient and health care team.
• Provides Veterans with ongoing health education, which spans the continuum of care from the skills and information needed to promote health and prevent disease, to the patient education needed to cope with and manage acute and chronic conditions. Clinical preventive services are delivered for the primary prevention of disease, or for the early detection of disease in persons who are asymptomatic for the target condition, with the goal of preventing or minimizing future morbidity and mortality. Clinical preventive services include: screening for treatable diseases, conditions or health risk behaviors (e.g., cancers, mental health conditions, tobacco use); immunizations; health education (e.g., education, counseling regarding tobacco use, physical activity, nutrition, promoting health and wellness); and preventive medications (such as prescribing statins for subclinical heart disease, etc.).

Work Schedule: M-F; 08:00 AM - 4:30pm MST, schedule may vary based on the needs of the service
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Jillana.Martinez@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
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)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
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 #: 50561-A, 50562-A, 50563-A, 50564-A
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• 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

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until January 16, 2025. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications was September 12, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date are referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. ***

Basic Requirements:

-Citizenship
Citizen of the United States

-English Language Proficiency
Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in [both] spoken and written English

-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.
Exceptions include:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Grade Determinations:

GS-03
None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-04
Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-04 if they meet any of the criteria below:

-Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN;

OR

-Graduation from an approved school and one year of experience that involved nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures;

OR

-Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.


GS-05

-Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-04 level or equivalent.

AND

-Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• 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 [in an appropriate manner] with patients, family members, professional and [other] supportive personnel [involved in the delivery of] 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.

GS-06

-Completion of at least one (1) year of [additional] qualifying experience at the GS-05 level or equivalent (fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-05 LPN/LVN).

AND

-Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• 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.
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members, and/or other internal/external customers.
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which include preparing the patient, assisting in the diagnostic examination, preparing and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment, and monitoring the patient's condition before, during, and following the procedure. Serves as a preceptor in orienting, educating, and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex, specialized tests/procedures.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.

Preferred Experience: Primary Care Experience, Previous Practical Nurse Experience

Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15 , For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.