Clarification from the agency

Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. VHA 3. All other applicants.

Videos

• The Ambulatory Care Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is responsible for care of Veterans across the lifespan with acute and/or chronic medical, surgical, and/or mental health conditions.
• The LPN is responsible for administering medications, nursing procedures, and completing Provider orders with oversight from the Registered Nurse.
• The LPN assists with transitions of care through collaboration with multi-disciplinary services, both internal and external to the VA Health System.
• The LPN monitors and utilizes team metrics to coordinate individualized nursing and other health services, promote patient advocacy, health education, promote optimal health and wellness, evaluate patient treatment preferences, health goals, and outcomes, and navigate the health care system.
• The LPN structures daily activities to promote time management, organization, and prioritization.
• Ambulatory Care nursing occurs across the continuum of care in a variety of outpatient settings, which include but are not limited to: Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery and Diagnostic Procedural areas, Telehealth services.
• The LPN provides nursing care face-to-face and through a variety of telecommunication strategies.
• The LPN provides screening and reporting of complex and potentially life-threatening conditions and/or behavioral health emergencies.
• The LPN assists with exams and procedures and tracks ongoing patient health needs.
• The LPN serves as a preceptor and mentor to new colleagues.
• The LPN participates in process improvement projects and other assigned administrative duties.
• The LPN provides coverage of other Ambulatory Care Clinics as assigned. In addition to the core elements of performance, Ambulatory LPN in the sub-specialty clinics (Gastroenterology, Medical Specialty, and Surgical Specialty) will have knowledge of infection control principles and to prevent post-procedure infections and cross contamination practices with sterile and non-sterile instrumentation and supplies.
• Practices proper handling and labeling of anatomic specimens, knowledge of common clinic-specific disease processes, conditions, and treatment modalities.

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 trial period.
• 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).

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. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not
  possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
• 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:
  • 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. See paragraph 4, section C.]
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct

• Assignments of licensed practical and vocational nurses at all grade levels, including entry grade levels, are dependent upon the validation of competence to perform clinical procedures (e.g., IV therapy) and certification of such competencies via either educational programs or on-the-job training.
• New examples of performance at the GS-3 through GS-6 level.
• Individuals who meet minimum qualifications may be appointed at the GS-4 level if they have additional recent education and/or experience in a clinical role such as nursing assistant, health technician, or emergency medical technician.

• All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. A pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment.
• Heavy lifting up to (35 pounds); heavy carrying up to (35 pounds); straight pulling (2-4 hours); pushing (2-4 hours); reaching above shoulders (1-2 hours); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (4-6 hours); standing (4-6 hours); repeated bending (2-4 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color; hear (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability.

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.