License Practical Nurse, Nursing Mental Health (BHIP)

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a vital member of the Mental Health Nursing Service (MHNS) Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Programs Teams (BHIP). The position is under the guidance of the BHIP Clinical Nurse Manager who reports to the Chief Mental Health Nursing. The incumbent is required to review medication orders and collaborate with the assigned BHIP Team. The incumbent provides long acting injectable behavioral health medications and vaccines.
The incumbent completes vital signs 12 Lead EKGs and mental health clinical reminders for their BHIP team if needed assists with other BHIP teams within BHIP Clinic. The incumbent provides short term one-to-one eyes on care/close observation to maintain safety for suicidal and homicidal patients in their clinic work areas. The incumbent is required to provide all care in accordance with VHA policy to ensure that the services requested and provided are appropriate timely and cost effective. The LPN is responsible to train and function as Telehealth Care Technicians in the BHIP clinic as needed.

• 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 patents 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 or physician for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures.
• Ability to observe identify and respond to the patients needs for care including medication equipment-assisted care and (patient/family education). In organizing and delivering care the LPN/LVN recognized and considers emotional cultural spiritual 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 medication/treatments promptly and accurately documenting noted changes and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent and emergent patient care situation seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior patient motivations and reactions to situations and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients family members and other staff.

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 evaluation .
• 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 in written and spoken English.
• 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.
• 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) 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 281986; 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.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

• GS-3 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements above. 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.
• GS-4 Experience/Education: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN or
  • Education: Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
  • Combined Education & Experience: Graduation from an approved school 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.
• GS-5 Experience: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the next lower level (GS-4). Additionally an LPN as this level will be able to demonstrate: knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems; 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; knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare administer and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral topical subcutaneous intramuscular and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures. Observation and documentation will include patients response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in 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; recognizes and appropriately responds 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.
• GS-6 Experience: Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN. LPN must be technically proficient in initiating performing and completing assigned duties in providing car to variable patient populations; Possess 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; Ability to observe identify and respond to the patients needs; Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral topical subcutaneous intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures; Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations; Knowledge and understanding of human behavior patient motivations and reactions to situations.