Licensed Practical Nurse Surgery Services

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

• Contributes to the development of the plan of care for assigned veterans outlining program modalities and updates per policy and as changes occur. This plan of care is completed with general review and co-signature by the RN or MD utilizing a broad knowledge base and expertise to develop and modify treatment plans to meet the veteran and the familys expectations.
• Promotes and demonstrates nursing concepts in the Medical Center. Works in collaboration with the Registered Nurse (RN) and or Health Care Provider (HCP).
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral topical subcutaneous Intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. The LPN/LVN observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patients health condition which may include prescribed medications/treatments to promptly and accurately documenting identified changes and reporting any deviations from normal to RN/HCP.
• Takes appropriate actions based upon communications observations veteran care reports provider/staff discussion. Reports changes to provider and demonstrates the knowledge and ability to effectively intervene and recommend and implement strategies that assure optimal safe and effective care.
• Assists other staff to prioritize the overall veteran care needs and adjusts the plan of care as needed. Has astute assessment skills which allow for observation of obvious and subtle changes in the veteran health condition. Responds diligently to the veteran changes and deteriorating condition in emergent situations notifying appropriate personnel in a timely manner.
• Accurately and consistently reports and records significant veteran information received from other team members and can analyze and implement modifications based on these reports.
• Is adept at encouraging and communicating with challenging psychological and physical behaviors to promote optimal functioning. Uses treatment modalities and implements appropriate practices and procedures with complex patients. Utilizes skills to influence and communicate with difficult and challenging veterans and families.
• Demonstrates the ability to work independently without the need for readily available supervision and communicates effectively with the veteran families caregivers professionals and other supportive staff.
• Demonstrates the knowledge skills and ability to perform treatments procedures and the use and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment appropriate to assigned duties.
• Exhibits skill creativity and initiative by contributing to the overall veteran care delivery and improving satisfaction through active participation on committees task forces and groups.
• Utilizes sustainable practices to eliminate minimize or mitigate adverse environmental impacts. Familiarizes self with how work activities impact VAs goal to implement sound stewardship practices that are protective of the air water land and other natural and cultural resources. Shall be a good steward of the environment by preventing pollution minimizing waste and continually improving environmental programs.
• Supports the team in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing staff or non-medical staff to ensure safe patient care delivery.

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.
• 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.

• 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

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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken 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. 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 OR granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVN.
• Licensure - Active full current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States or the District of Columbia.

• (a) Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS-6 LPN/LVN. 6
• (b) Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties including assignments in selected more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings. Knowledge base promotes the incorporation of current patient care data in actively contributing to the development of the patients overall health plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions. Positions at this grade level require broader knowledge and skills because supervision is more general and employees are expected to be involved to a greater degree in the development and modification of treatment plans.
• (c) Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery. Makes astute observations of subtle less obvious changes both physical and emotional in patients condition and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patients response to care that could require immediate modification of the patients care plan. Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patients condition requiring higher-level intervention. At this grade level the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing and as appropriate modifying patient care treatment. They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations.
• (d) Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patients needs for medication/treatments accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and patients response to medications/treatments received. (This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.) Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions promptly inform the RN or MD/DO of observed changes in patients condition and initiate appropriate prescribed interventions.
• (e) Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO for appropriate team intervention and effectively intervene as directed to assure the continuation of optimal safe and therapeutic patient care delivery. At this grade level the LPN/LVN must have a broader knowledge of the patient treatment process and exercise judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate.
• (f) Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes. Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with patients and/or family members who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control resistant or abusive behaviors or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions.
• (g) Exhibits skill creativity and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces research projects or in developing educational materials/media.
• (h) Possesses comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices to serve as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care. Serves as a role model and mentor to other nursing staff in the application of more complex technology effectively guiding and directing their continuing practice in these areas.
• (i) Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or nonmedical staff in patient care delivery. Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/DO.
• (j) Work of considerable difficulty and responsibility is performed under general supervision. Individuals in these positions are to a considerable extent expected to exercise independent technical judgments and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles art and science of practical nursing.
• (k) Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice.