Practical Nurse (Mental Health)

VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

This Practical Nurse position is located in the Nursing Service (Mental Health) at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center in Bedford Massachusetts. This announcement is intended to fill multiple vacancies throughout the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bedford MA. Available shifts could be days evenings nights or include weekends/holidays to cover shortages or high patient volume. Shift changes will be considered based on patient and facility needs.

Under the direct supervision of the RN MD DO NP or PA the Practical Nurse is held accountable for delivering direct patient care to adult through geriatric aged patients. He/she recognizes the age-related needs and demonstrates knowledge and care appropriate to that age group. He/she considers the cognitive physical emotional and chronological maturation needs of the patients demonstrates competence and correctly provides appropriate care for that age group or groups.

Major Duties in addition to basic Practical Nurse duties include but are not limited to:

• Collects data and collaborates in the assessment of the health status of a patient.
• Implements aspects of the plan of care as delegated.
• Participates in the evaluation of patient responses to interventions.
• Participates in health teaching and counseling to promote attain and maintain the optimum health level of patients as delegated.
• Recognizes reports and records promptly all changes in physical condition and behavior of patients.
• Completes routine documentation of results of care and treatment according to policy guidelines instructions (e.g. flow sheets) utilizing the electronic record and information network.
• Differentiates between emergent and non-emergent conditions. Reports promptly and accurately records critical/emergency situations.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and /or behavioral problems.
• Demonstrates a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO.
• Technically efficient 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.
• Ability to observe identify and respond to the patients needs for care including medication equipment assisted care and patient/family education.
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and /or specialized practices or procedures.
• Inpatient Units - Part of being an employee with the Bedford VA includes taking care of all of the veterans across the hospital. All inpatient units include Mental Health Acute Psychiatric Long Term Psychiatric Residential Long Term Care Short Term Care Hospice Rehabilitation and Dementia. All staff are required and may have to float to support the needs of the inpatient units.

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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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.

• 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.

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: Practical Nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
• 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. EXCEPTION:
  • 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 11/21/83 and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 enacted 10/28/86 & 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.
• License: Full active current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or District of Columbia.

• Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; OR
• Graduation from an approved school and 1 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.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Work with 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. Provide effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes medication and /or prescribed treatment regimes.
2. 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.
3. Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare administer & appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral topical subcutaneous intramuscular and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies & procedures. Observation & documentation will include patients response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patients condition to RN or MD/DO.
4. Knowledge & ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO & assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest.
5. Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment safety hazards & supply deficiencies promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.
6. Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO. Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures.

1. Technically proficient in initiating performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.
2. 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 MD/DO for appropriateness & conformity with established policies/procedures.
3. Ability to observe identify & respond to the patients needs for care including medication equipment-assisted care and patient/family organizing and delivering care the LPN/LVN recognizes & considers emotional cultural spiritual socio-economic and age-related factors.
4. Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral topical subcutaneous intramuscular and/or intravenous) & performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patients condition from prescribed medications/treatments promptly and accurately documenting noted changes and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.
5. Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO & initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
6. Knowledge & understanding of human behavior patient motivations and reactions to situations & ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients family members & other staff.
7. Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings & attitudes & to promote positive relationships communication & socialization skills. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient & family rights to privacy & dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Effectively incorporates knowledge & understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients family members and/or other internal/external customers.
8. 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 & handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment & monitoring the patients condition before during & 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.
9. Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve & advance nursing practice.