Licensed Practical Nurse

Summary Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) reports to the designated Nurse Manager and provides care in a Women’s Health setting. The incumbent is responsible and accountable for the provision of patient care and for delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse veteran patient population. Performs practical nursing duties with precision and efficiency—consistent with Medical Center Policy and within legal and ethical responsibilities of licensure as a LPN. Qualifications 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 Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Health care education/training in the military service accepted by the licensing body in the jurisdiction in which the individual is licensed is considered to meet this requirement. VHA employees converted to appointments under certain public laws may be eligible for educational waivers. See VA Qualification Standard for details. Licensure: Full‑active‑current‑and‑unrestricted licensure as a Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grandfathering Provision: Individuals may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation. This provision applies only to current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the criteria. If claiming grandfather status—ensure this is noted in your application and is addressed in the assessment questionnaire. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate’s qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. GS-4: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or Graduation from an approved school and one year of experience in a clinical role; or Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. GS-5: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent; demonstrated 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 to administer and document medication per local facility policies; observation and documentation of medication response and reporting to RN or MD/DO; knowledge and ability to recognize and institute emergency measures; recognition and reporting of equipment or supply deficiencies; completed work under general supervision of an RN or MD/DO; broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures; complex practice or procedures may require higher‑level review. GS-6: 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 patient’s conditions; use judgment in selecting appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; accurate recognition, reporting, and recording of relevant patient information; completed work requiring only general review by an RN or physician; ability to observe, identify, and respond to patient needs for care, including medication, equipment assistance, and patient/family education; preparation and administration of prescribed medication and performance of treatments per established policies; observation and documentation of changes from medications and treatments; knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and seek assistance; knowledge of human behavior and patient motivation; establishment of constructive relationships with individual patients and their families; fostering an environment of respect for patient and family rights to privacy and dignity; incorporation of customer service standards; knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices; service as a preceptor for orientation and training of less experienced LPNs/LVNs or NAs/HTs; active pursuit of educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills. Preferred Experience: Three (3) years of Licensed Practical Nurse experience; Three (3) years of Primary Care and/or Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard—please visit: Physical Requirements: Walking, standing, bending, lifting, pushing, pulling, kneeling, and potential exposure to infectious patients and contaminated materials. Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity are essential. Must be able to work effectively under stressful situations and shift priorities based on patient needs. Annual employee health requirements (such as TB screening/testing) are required. Duties Provides practical nursing care to assigned Veterans under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) and/or Provider—ensuring tasks are completed in accordance with VA policies, procedures, and professional standards. Performs technical nursing tasks such as vital signs measurement, medication administration (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous), specimen collection, wound care, and assistance with diagnostic procedures. Initiates, monitors, assesses, and discontinues intravenous lines and fluids—documents interventions and observations in the electronic health record and promptly reports changes in patient condition to the RN or Provider. Recognizes urgent or emergent situations and responds appropriately—including assisting with CPR or emergency care and obtaining necessary equipment under the direction of higher‑level staff. Delivers care that supports the physical, emotional, and developmental needs of patients—considering age‑specific requirements and involving patients and families in care planning when appropriate. Documents all care provided, observations, and patient/family education in accordance with legal, ethical, and VA privacy and security regulations. Demonstrates effective communication and interpersonal skills—maintaining a positive, respectful, and customer‑service‑oriented environment with Veterans, families, and colleagues. Participates in training, competency validation, prevention and management of disruptive behavior (PMDB), unit meetings, and ongoing education activities as required by VA and service line policies. Complies with infection control and patient safety standards—proper use and cleaning of equipment and safe patient handling protocols to prevent injury to patients and staff. Maintains flexibility with schedule and assignments to meet operational needs—and supports quality improvement initiatives and special projects as assigned. Benefits Work Schedule: Full Time—7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment—up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment—full‑time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Telework: Ad‑hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs