Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field. This vacancy is open to current, permanent employees of the San Francisco VA ONLY. This includes the San Francisco VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics, and Past/Current/upcoming VHA HPT graduates.

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The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) with Mental Health Nursing is part of the Addiction Recovery Treatment Services (ARTS) Intensive Outpatient program (IOP) and is responsible for direct patient care activities under the direction of the Registered Nurse (RN). The LVN/LPN works in a self-directed manner which requires minimal supervision from the RN, and demonstrates a basic understanding of patient's physical and emotional needs by using a broad spectrum of technical skills to meet those needs. They are responsible for working within the outpatient treatment program helping Veterans with substance use disorders, both virtually and in person to local and CBOC Veterans.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with various physical and/or behavioral problems.
• Demonstrates the ability to serve as a responsible nursing team member and interact with patients, family members, and professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care.
• Performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, positive customer service, and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran.
• Establishes work priorities and completes assignments based on established protocols/accepted medical service practices, San Francisco VA Healthcare System policy and procedures, and VHA Guidelines.
• Demonstrates knowledge of pertinent Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and competency in the set-up, proper use, and disinfection of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) and Reusable Medical Devices (RMD).
• Prepares, administers, and documents medications and treatments, including the patient's response, as prescribed
• Develops individualized relapse prevention plans with the veterans and interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Helps veterans in developing tools to self-manage substance use. Teaching them to recognize behavioral changes necessary to achieve and sustain abstinence.
• Receives consults, reviews records, and makes phone outreach attempts to the veterans.
• Coordinates with CM team to schedule testing and feedback sessions.
• Serves as point of contact for veterans enrolled in program, assists with needs such as care coordination, medication education, MI, goal setting, etc.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in supporting providers with complex diagnostic tests and procedures.
• Completes preventative screenings, clinical reminders, and encounters.
• Measures and charts vital signs; reports abnormal findings to RN or provider.
• Demonstrates appropriate action in environmental emergencies and promptly seeks the RN or MD/DO's assistance as needed.
• Assists Veteran's transitions to and from inpatient, residential settings, and specialty care.
• Performs other IOP team tasks essential to functioning of the clinical program.

Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm *Schedule may vary depending on patient care and department needs
Telework: Not availableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Liz.Licea@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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.
• 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 dentification 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.

Qualifications

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.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken 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 OR granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVN.
• Licensure - Active, full, current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), of the United States or the District of Columbia.
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for the grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade

GS 3: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS 4: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN/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 in duration. AND LVN/LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-3 grade level.

GS 5: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. AND

• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact with patients, family members, professional and supportive personnel patient care.
• 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.
• 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.

GS 6: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent. AND

• 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 and to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments.
• Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for medication, equipment-assisted care and patient/family education.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures.
• 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.
• 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.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 3 to 6.

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

Physical Requirements: The population of male and female patients served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. The San Francisco VA Health Care System is a health care facility, providing acute medical, surgical, behavioral health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, geriatric, and primary care services predominately to veterans, but in special cases, includes active duty military and civilian populations. This position requires visual acuity (Correctable to 20/40), hearing clear distinctive speech (correctable to 20db), and manual dexterity to perform prescribed procedures/computer usage. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or during patient operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, and is able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

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.