Licensed Practical Nurse- Community Living Center

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

The LPN requires a general review of their work by an RN for appropriateness and conformity with license policies and procedures. The LPN demonstrates active collaboration and communication with Core Interdisciplinary Team and coworkers involved in providing care to the patient. Major Duties Include But Not Limited To:

• Be technically proficient in initiating performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations.
• Use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
• Uses knowledge to appropriately carry out assigned patient care with only a general review by the RN for the appropriateness and conformity of the care with established policies and procedures.
• Provides direct nursing care to veterans in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Demonstrating knowledge to provide a full range of practical nursing care to veterans with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
• Demonstrating ability to serve as a responsible member of the health care team and interact with veterans significant others and co-workers.
• Documenting care provided observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms.
• Observing changes in veterans condition (e.g. behavior shifts mood changes skin coloring appetite medication side effects etc.)
• Assuring receipt of adequate nutritional intake either through observation feeding or properly positioning and checking placement of feeding tube for the veteran.
• Administering medications stoma care (e.g. tracheotomy suctioning colostomy) enemas skin care simple dressing braces and prosthetic devices. Monitors intake and output according to established policy and procedure.
• Recognizing the veterans autonomy and promoting independence by means of respect limit setting and individualized treatment.
• Serves as team leader to a group of veterans and direct care staff observing nursing care delivered and reporting concerns to the charge nurse.
• Reinforces medication education and age-related healthcare education to veterans in relations to common disease processes medications and/or prescribed treatment regimes.
• Do dressing.

• 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 evaluation/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.

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:

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.
• 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. 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). (3) Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school.
• 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 VA Handbook 5005/3 chapter 3 section B paragraph 16.

• Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or
• Graduation from an approved school (waivable per Section C paragraph 4) plus 1 year of nursing care experience in a hospital outpatient clinic nursing home or other supervised medical facility with practical knowledge of body structure and sterile techniques; or
• Graduation from an approved 24-month program. LPNs at the GS-4 grade level perform all duties expected of GS-3 employees using greater judgment less supervision and adherence to all established policies procedures and techniques.

• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide 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 Health Technicians 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 and /or prescribed treatment regimes.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact appropriately with patients family members professional and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care incorporating 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 promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.

• 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 patients 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 (RN) or physician (MD/ DO) 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 organizing and delivering care the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional cultural spiritual socio-economic and age-related factors.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral/topical/subcutaneous/intramuscular/intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures. Observes changes in patients condition from prescribed medications/treatments promptly and accurately documenting noted changes and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO.
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed. Understanding of human behavior patient motivations and reactions to situations. 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 promote positive relationships communication and socialization skills.
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices/procedures including preparing the patient assisting in the diagnostic examination preparing/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.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills.