Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to the public. If you are a Current, Permanent VA employee, Health Professional Trainees or other Federal Employees, please apply to the internal announcement: CBSU-12969609-26-ALA. Veterans' preference does NOT apply for this announcement per 38 U.S.C. § 7412.

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

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) is responsible for observing, recording, and reporting changes in the patient's condition, as well as assisting in the development and revision of the patient-driven holistic life care plan. The LPN/LVN demonstrates active collaboration, communication and problem solving with the interdisciplinary and Care Team (Patient, Licensed Independent Provider, Pharmacist, RN, and Medical Support Assistant) and Expanded Care Team (family/caregiver, internal and community-based services involved in providing care to the patient). Demonstrate the ability to carry out specialized patient care to include chronic disease clinics, group visits, and to assist with LPN/LVN assignments. Participates with interdisciplinary team meetings to determine alternative care plans for veterans. The employee plans, implement nursing care, problem solves and modifies care independently utilizing previous experience, policies and procedures, and standards of care as a basis for decision making. Report work completed to the Supervisor and/or in report to the oncoming shift. The employee is expected to set priorities and deadlines. Work assignments are periodically monitored. The LPN/LVN will support organizational mission and staffing needs throughout the facility as necessary during natural, man-made, pandemic or emergency situations. The LPN/LVN will be assigned to assist other units/clinics as needed and supports the team in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing staff of nonmedical staff to ensure safe patient care delivery.

Other duties include but are not limited to:

PATIENT CARE:

• Technically proficient in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.
• Utilizing computer programs required for the position.

SAFETY:

• Assisting in maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment for patients, including those exhibiting unpredictable behavior.
• Consistently demonstrate 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.
• Providing appropriate care and documentation for patients (1) at high· risk for falls, (2) requiring restraints, (3) requiring Emergency Orders of Detentions (EOD) or Court commitment, and (4) demonstrating suicidal or ideations, or (5) patients requiring special monitoring or observation.

MEDICATION MANAGEMENT:

• Adheres to the rights of medication administration (1) Right patient, (2) Right medication, (3) Right dose, (4) Right route, (5) Right time, (6) Right documentation.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous, enemas and suppository forms of medications).
• Self-directed in flushing and changing the dressings of heparin locks. Initiating venipunctures for peripheral IV's and changing tubing and dressings. Central line and peripherally inserted central catheter line care, i.e., flushes, dressing changes, IV tubing changes and administration of medications (does not include dialysis catheters or infusaports). Performs treatments according to established policies/procedures.

PERSONAL MANAGEMENT/SELF GROWTH

• Maintains an understanding of the Vision, Mission, Values and Goals of the VA Health Care System.
• Conducts self-assessment and communicates need for development of plan for individual improvement with the Nurse Manager.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills, sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.

Work Schedule: 0730-1600, Monday-Friday
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 #: PD54518-A, PD54519-A, PD54520-A, and PD54521-A

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 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.

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. United States.

English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in 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. 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 licensure section below.

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. An LPN[/LVN] who has or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part.

Grade Requirements.

Practical Nurse GS-3: Qualifications - None beyond the basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved.

Practical Nurse GS-4: Qualifications - Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria in paragraphs 3b(2)(a) through (c) below:

(a)Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN;

OR

(b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) 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

(c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. For 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.

Practical Nurse GS-5: Qualifications - Must have completed of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. You must also possess the required KSA's as outlined in the assessment.

Practical Nurse GS-6: Qualifications - Must have completed at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN. You must also possess the required KSA's as outlined in the assessment.

The full performance level is a GS-06.You may be selected at the GS-3, 4, 5 or 6 Level.

Physical Requirements: The position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. It requires restraining confused patients, repositioning patients, assisting with transferring patients to Wheelchairs/stretchers/cars, and transporting them to other departments or facilities. Mechanical devices available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/ invasive procedures. This position requires visual acuity, good hearing, distinctive speech and manual dexterity. The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level with neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control.

References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13.

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.