Licensed Practical Nurse

The Licensed Practical/Licensed Vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) will support the Nursing Acute Care Services at the Spartanburg location of the Columbia VA Medical Center. The primary purpose of the LPN/LVN is to perform assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care positive customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran

.VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Duties include but not limited to:

• Makes observations and thoroughly documents care and the patients response. Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or medical provider of changes in the patients condition requiring higher-level intervention.
• Performs reports and documents assigned nursing care in the Primary Care Clinics for both in person and virtual care modalities.
• Adheres to standards of practice and safe techniques in preparation and administration of medication.
• Demonstrates understanding of age-and population-specific characteristics that affect the health care needs of the Veteran.
• Promptly recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations seeks assistance and effectively intervenes as directed when appropriate.
• Provides patient and family health education to include self-management prevention and wellness based on the patients goals and as assigned by the RN.
• Demonstrates professional behavior (i.e. respect civility ability to accept constructive criticism) effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Interacts and communicates appropriately with patients and family members incorporating acceptable established customer service
• standards into practice.
• Follows policy and procedures related to fire and disaster drills safety and security measures.
• Actively assists the Teamlet and expanded Teams. Will serve as a surrogate LPN as needed.
• Participates in performance improvement initiatives and strives to elevate the practice standards in the clinic.
• Assists in the orientation of students peers and clerical staff.
• Completes mandatory reviews for health coaching in order to encourage patient self-- management toward individualized life plan of care.
• Maintains confidentiality of electronic written and/or verbal patient information.
• Uses broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures to support patient-driven care in a safe efficient and cost-effective manner using evidenced based principles.

NOTE: Prior to accepting a final employment offer all selected applicants will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding deployment responsibilities

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination and maintain CDT physical readiness.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Must be able to meet physical demands which include strenuous physical activity to include carrying persons and equipment walking long distances over difficult terrain running climbing working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions long periods of standing and bending and stooping.
• 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.

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 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.

• Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
• 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.
• 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.
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardia and/or pulmonary arrest.
• Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment safety hazards and supply deficiencies.

• Proficiency 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
• 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 documents and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patients condition from prescribed medications/treatments.
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations 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.

• 2-3 years of experience as in LPN/LVN experience related to the area of deployment
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Preferred Experience
• Preferred 1 year ambulatory or clinic experience. Effective communication skills and customer etiquettes and have the ability to work cohesively in a healthcare setting.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.