Licensed Practical Nurse-Surgical Service Float

Licensed Practical Nurse - The LPN/LVN GS-7 work is of considerable difficulty and responsibility and 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.

Please make sure to include days and months you worked at your previous positions and hours per week on your resume/application

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for goals and interventions that promote veterans in attaining maximum functional potential such as ambulation bowel and bladder training dressing grooming bathing oral hygiene range of motion exercises and fall prevention modalities..
• Observing recording reporting changes in the patients condition as well as assisting in the development and revision of the patient driven holistic care plan for life.
• Demonstrates active collaboration and communication with clinic staff the patients family/care giver internal and community-based services and disciplines involved in providing care to patients.
• Makes observations and thoroughly documents care and the patients response.
• Performs reports and records assigned nursing care including but not limited to clinical reminders as indicated checking expiration dates of medications and supplies obtaining equipment and assisting with minor procedures documenting and transporting procedural biological specimens recognizing urgent or emergent patient care situations and adhering to principles of infection control safety and universal precautions.
• Responsible for RME for all scopes and other equipment (stainless steel surgical instruments) specific to their clinic assignment and for cleaning non-reusable medical equipment between patients per standard operating procedures.
• Knowledgeable of program regulations and is able to carry out objectives of the Nursing program within guidelines to meet and maintain program requirements
• Contributes to the development of the plan of care for assigned veterans outlining program modalities and updates per policy and as changes occur with general review and co-signature by the RN or MD.
• 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.
• Takes appropriate actions based upon communications observations veteran care reports provider/staff discussion.
• Assists other staff in order to prioritize the overall veteran care needs and adjusts the plan of care as needed.
• Is adept at encouraging and communicating with challenging psychological and physical behaviors to promote optimal functioning
• Demonstrates the knowledge skills and ability to perform treatments procedures and the use and reprocessing of reusable medical equipment appropriate to assigned duties.
• Performs assigned nursing care responsibilities requiring the use of equipment technology or knowledge in procedures performed in the Surgery Clinics.
• Provides for supportive care of patients relative to transition from one area of care to another.
• Utilizes special equipment such as IV infusion pumps Doppler units pulse oximetry bladder scanner EKG point of care testing computer and other instruments.
• Provides nursing care to assigned outpatients whose care requires close observation during procedures.
• Administers intravenous fluids and/or medications according to medical provider orders and established policy.

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:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. 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. 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. 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 patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

• 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 listed below:
• Skills 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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. Employees at this grade level demonstrate broader knowledge and skill with respect to these responsibilities than employees at lower grade levels.
• 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 and exercise judgment that demonstrates the ability to effectively intervene when appropriate.
• 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. This includes the ability to effectively deal with the above types of patients under very general supervision.
• 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. Actively promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of their practice.
• 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.
• Supports the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery. Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the RN or MD/ addition to responsibilities at the lower grade level the LPN/LVN is responsible for monitoring the practice of non-licensed nursing and medical staff.
• 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. The staff mix is such that employees at this grade level are expected to perform practical nursing duties of considerable difficulty and responsibility under very general supervision.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills and providing leadership in assisting other staff improve and advance their nursing practice.