Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4

The Audiology & Speech Pathology LPN provides patient education and triages hearing aid problems and patient complaints to determine if an additional appointment or further care is needed with an audiologist. The incumbent may also assist or help set-up for modified barium swallow studies for the speech pathologists. The incumbent maintains stock and supplies for the entire audiology clinic and the mobile audiology clinic. The incumbent manages all of the devices going out or coming in from repair and processes new orders using audiology-specific software. The incumbent may provide care at the satellite clinics on the audiology mobile unit.

The ability to succeed in this role requires effective communication with Veterans who are experiencing communication disorders.

The Licensed Practical Nurse functions under the supervision the Audiology Program Manager.

The Licensed Practical Nurse Duties include but are not limited to:

• Independently provide patient education.
• Communicate and interact appropriately and courteously with internal and external customers so as to facilitate Service Recovery at the unit level.
• Maintain confidentiality of written, electronic, and verbal patient/employee information.
• Work and function within a safe manner including infection control and use of equipment; appropriately reporting and addressing safety hazards to prevent injury to internal and external customers.
• Integrate and apply pertinent aspects of the Outpatient Clinic performance improvement program into his/her professional practice.
• Utilize nursing research and literature in practice.

The Licensed Practical Nurse possesses the ability to provide hearing aid care to Veterans to include the following:

• Responsible for routine repairs of hearing aids delivered or mailed to the Audiology Clinic.
• Meeting with veterans on a one-to-one basis to solve hearing aid problems. In this capacity, the incumbent provides primary level trouble shooting and repair for veterans who are experiencing hearing aid problems.
• Trouble-shooting devices. Services commonly provided by the Technician include the evaluation of hearing aid function and fit through listening checks, electroacoustic evaluation, visual inspection, changing of batteries, cleaning of electrical contacts, removal of impacted cerumen from the aid, replacing earmold tubing, inspecting and replacing mic covers.
• Earmold impression of a patient's ear following careful examination of the ear for contra-indications by an Audiologist. All interactions are properly documented in the veteran's records and electronic health record system in the form of clinical progress notes and with an audiologist named as a co-signer.

When it is necessary for a hearing aid to be returned to the manufacturer for repair, the incumbent prepares all necessary paperwork and records and packages and ships the instrument. The incumbent makes appropriate entries in the clinic's record tracking system in order to ensure that the hearing aid is properly tracked during the repair process.

The Licensed Practical Nurse demonstrates the knowledge necessary to administrative management in audiology such as:

Roes Entries: The incumbent will be responsible for entering ROES orders for his/her hearing aid repairs, batteries and other supplies as necessary. She/he will track and certify hearing aid orders as they are received, as well as taking necessary steps for correcting errors or changes as they occur.

Equipment and Supply Management: The incumbent maintains an adequate supply of materials and other supplies (as requested by Audiology staff) to meet the clinic needs. The technician maintains clinic records in accordance with service line, VA ACC, and VA requirements.

SDS management: The technician works with the program support assistant and reviews annually the safety data sheets (SDS) for the audiology clinic including CBOCs. She/he will ensure that inventory and sheets are current.

Work Schedule: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, 4 ten hour days
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
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.
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 #: 91889-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.
• 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.
• 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.

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:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.
• Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), previously known as 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 Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), previously known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006. Additional information may also be obtained from the ACEN Website. 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.
• 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:

GS-06:You may qualify based on your experience or education as described below:

Experience. Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN.

You will be rated on the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's) based on your application for this position. Please make sure that each is addressed in detail in the body of your resume.

For the FULL list of KSA's used for qualifications please refer to: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G13, LICENSED PRACTICAL OR VOCATIONAL NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G13, LICENSED PRACTICAL OR VOCATIONAL NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.

In addition to the qualification above you must also have:

• Specialized Experience/Education/Combination of Experience and Education.

Physical Requirements:

The LPN requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting. S/he may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. S/he may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. S/he must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing on hire, as a condition of employment. In the performance of duties, s/he may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

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.