Practical Nurse - Spinal Cord Injury

Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. This Licensed Practical Nurse position is at the VA Boston Healthcare System located at the West Roxbury - MA location. This position is a full time position at 40 hours per week.

Qualifications

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
• Language: Must be proficient in the English language
• Licensure: Must have a 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
• Education: Must be a 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
• Grade Determinations GS-05 Qualifications: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-04 level or equivalent
• In addition to meeting the Experience requirement - the applicant must demonstrate all Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA's) below: Demonstrated knowledge and 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 NAs/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 - and /or prescribed treatment regimes
• 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 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 patient's response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient's 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 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
• GS-06 Qualifications Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-05 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-05 LPN/LVN
• In addition to meeting the experience/education requirement - the applicant must demonstrate all Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA's) below
• 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 patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment-assisted care and patient/family education
• In 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 and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's 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
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations - and 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 - and 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 established 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 include preparing the patient - assisting in the diagnostic examination - preparing and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment - and monitoring the patient's 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience in Spinal Cord Injury - Rehabilitation or Primary Care
• Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 7/29/2026
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 5/13/2026 - with subsequent cut-off dates bi-weekly
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• The incumbent performs a wide range of patient care and supportive duties in SCI
• In addition to direct patient care activities and specialized procedures - the incumbent will have the ability and training to perform a wide range of clerical support duties to enhance the processing of orders and referrals
• clinic scheduling and patient flow - flexibility is inherent in the position
• Reports to and works under the supervision of the SCI chief
• Duties may include - but are not limited to: Participates in pre-planning of care such as through huddles and follow-up of patient visits as indicated and participates in the prioritization and coordination of patient care and team communication
• May serve as the initial contact for patients seeking medical care
• Receives and directs patients and visitors and responds to routine inquiries
• Prepares patients for medical evaluation and treatment
• Adheres to principles of infection control - safety - and universal precautions
• Interviews patients and records subjective complaints or requests - and preventive health questionnaires using live data entry
• Acts in the capacity of liaison/expediter of care between the patient and the SCI/D Care Team - as well as interdisciplinary care team - or other clinicians and staff in outpatient and/or inpatient settings of the Medical Center
• Facilitates smooth communication and information flow among them for the purpose of better coordination of care and assists patients with questions - complaints - and other information relative to the Veterans care
• Participates in demonstrating treatment activities or procedures for the benefit of other health technicians - students and medical personnel
• Triages patients - identifies needs by assessing the patients' mental and functional status in order to advise the provider
• Acts as a backup to the MSA for support with answering clinic phones - checking messages - scheduling patients and arranging for patient travel
• Receives and processes telephone calls - alerts - etc. - for the team as appropriate
• Readily recognize emergency situations - and takes appropriate measures and assists provider in emergency situations
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am - 16:30 pm
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May Be Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 401K 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: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: F05146
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
• Financial Disclosure: Not Required
• Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service
• This position is covered by a special rate
• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's
• Due to a critical staffing shortage - 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment
• Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.