Practical Nurse

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Delivers fundamental knowledge based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies.
• Provides quality nursing care to Veterans.
• Works as a vital team member in collaboration with the inpatient Mental Health Team and the ancillary departments to provide excellent quality patient care.
• Leads groups in care area to support the recovery and rehabilitation of the Veteran population.
• Engages Veterans in activities while also promoting professional boundaries and appropriate behavior.
• Provides monitor of the Veteran population as ordered by the provider to include one on one observation when needed.
• Collects specimens as ordered by the provider and informs patients on specimen collection procedures to be performed.
• Communicates and interacts appropriately and courteously with internal and external customers.
• Works and functions within a safe manner including infection control and use of equipment.
• Assures that patient safety is paramount in all aspects of patient care.

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.
• 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; OR 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; OR Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160 enacted 11/21/1983 or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576 enacted 1028/1986; OR 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. 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.
• Physical Standards: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Works with the 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. Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes medication and /or prescribed treatment regimes.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to serve as a responsible member of a nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients family members professional and/or other support personnel involved in the delivery of patient care and incorporating acceptable established customer service standards into practice.
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare administer and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral topical subcutaneous intramuscular and/or intravenous medications. This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting noted changes in the patients condition to RN or MD/DO
• 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.
• Recognize and appropriately respond 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. Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures. However completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review.

• 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 using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments and accurately recognizing reporting and recording relevant patient information. Completed work should need only a general review by a RN or MD/DO for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures.
• Ability to observe identify and respond to a patients needs for care including medication equipment-assisted care and patient/family organizing and delivering care the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional socio-economic and age-related factors.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral topical subcutaneous intramuscular and/or intravenous) and 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.
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations seeking assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior patient motivations and reactions to situations and the 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 to promote positive relationships communication and socialization skills. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of customer service standards in all interactions with patients family members and/or other internal/external customers.
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures which includes preparing the patient and assisting in the diagnostic examination preparing and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment and monitoring the patients condition before during and 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.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.