Practical Nurse

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 4/22/2026. Initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 12/01/2025 with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals.

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

Duties & skills needed to be successful in this position include but are not limited to:

• Provides a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Is able to perform routine evaluation of patients while in the clinic setting by obtaining current symptoms & complaints observing the patients condition behavior & response to treatments and/or medications.
• Documents appropriate information in the patient record & reports & significant deviations to the RN and/or provider.
• Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes medication and/or prescribed treatment regimes.
• Recognizes the need for & institutes cardiopulmonary resuscitation measures when indicated in accordance with established medical center policy & procedure. Independently performs coordinating duties related to the operation of the clinic such as ordering & maintaining supplies & medications & obtaining patient data.
• Recognizes & appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment safety hazards & supply deficiencies promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action. Performs other assignments designated by the RN or clinic providers which are
  essential to patient care & appropriate personnel for corrective action. Performs other assignments designated by the RN or clinic providers which are essential to patient care & appropriate to the incumbents level of training.
• Uses motivational interviewing techniques to guide patients to establish goals. Practices within their nursing scope of practice & functional level demonstrating & promoting the mission of the VA & ICARE values.
• Set up or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment as applicable for all equipment for which you have been trained.
• Performs all unit specific nursing interventions & procedures to include but not limited to: Understand & implement the PACT model PACT Protocols PACT handbook VHA 1101.10(1) implements & documents education provided to patients & families.
• Delivers safe care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice VHA Directives & local policies.
• Safely & effectively uses patient care equipment. Reports equipment in need of repair.
• Correctly & safely performs nursing procedures or seeks help when needed.
• Recognizes overt abnormal signs & symptoms and/or changes in patients condition & responds appropriately.
• Responsible for timely implementation of orders & nursing interventions.
• Requests assistance from co-workers when needed; knows when to ask for help.
• Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments using the nursing process based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Completes initial assessment of patient condition & response to treatment & initiates follow-up as needed.
• Assesses patients learning needs learning preference & readiness to learn.
• Develops & implements a plan to meet learning needs instructing patients & families in basic health teaching & discharge planning.
• Evaluates & documents patient response to interventions & progress towards attainment of goals & expected outcomes.
• Revises plan of care according to evaluations of patients responses & outcomes.
• Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) & the Bar Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) software per policy.
• Treats all patients & families with dignity & respect. Listens to & honors patient & family perspectives & choices. Patient & family knowledge values beliefs & cultural backgrounds are incorporated into the planning & delivery of care in a non-judgmental nondiscriminatory manner (Patient & Family Centered Care).
• Maintains professional boundaries with patients families & employees. Behavior as a role model is transparent & above reproach.

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 & 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.

• 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.
• Licensure: Full active current & 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.
  • NOTE: 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.

• Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN.

• Graduation from an approved school & one year of experience & 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 & sterile techniques & procedures;.

• Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
• LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS-3 grade level; however they are expected to exercise greater judgment require less supervision & to operate in accordance with all established policies procedure & techniques.

• Demonstrated knowledge & 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 & /or prescribed treatment regimes.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team & interact in an appropriate manner with patients family members professional & other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care incorporating acceptable established customer service standards into practice.
• Knowledge & 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 & the reporting of any noted change in patients condition to RN or MD/DO.
• Knowledge & ability to recognize the need for & 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.
• Recognizes & appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment safety hazards & 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 & completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.
• Knowledge & ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patient conditions; to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order & sequence of procedures & treatments; & to accurately recognize report & record relevant patient information. Completed work should need only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness & conformity with established policies/procedures.
• Ability to observe identify & respond to the patients needs for care including medication equipment-assisted care & patient/family education.
• Prepare & administer prescribed medication (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 & accurately documenting noted changes & reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.
• Knowledge & ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO & initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
• Knowledge & understanding of human behavior patient motivations & reactions to situations & ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients family members & other staff.
• Establish constructive relationships with individual patients & 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 & or other internal/external customers.
• Knowledge & 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 & training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs related to support duties for these more complex specialized tests/procedures.
• Actively seek out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge & skills sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve & advance nursing practice.