Licensed Practical Nurse/ Licensed Vocational Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • Richland, WA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) supports the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) in providing ongoing, continuous care to one or more assigned panels of Veterans. The role performs basic practical nursing duties and other assigned work to promote quality health care, positive customer service, and an environment committed to serving Veterans. This is an intermittent position with no guaranteed hours.

The LPN/LVN provides direct patient care, monitors vital signs, observes and reports changes in patient condition, and assists providers with examinations and procedures. The nurse reviews daily clinic schedules and patient-care needs, keeps Veterans informed about delays, responds promptly to urgent or emergent situations, and checks and restocks clinic equipment and supplies. The position collaborates with the team on comprehensive health care and care management plans, advocates for patients, and ensures patients understand their visits and when to return to the clinic.

The position requires current, unrestricted LPN/LVN licensure and graduation from an approved practical or vocational nursing program, subject to stated exceptions. Grade qualifications vary: GS-3 has no additional requirements beyond the basic requirements; GS-4 and above require specified qualifying experience or education; and GS-5 and GS-6 require progressively broader nursing knowledge, patient-care skills, judgment, emergency response, medication administration, teamwork, and support for procedures. Work is under the general supervision of an RN or physician, with the level of review varying by grade.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Graduation from an approved practical or vocational nursing school, subject to the listed education exceptions.
• Full, active, current, and unrestricted LPN/LVN licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Meet the qualifying education or experience requirements for the applicable grade: GS-3 requires no additional qualification beyond the basic requirements; GS-4 requires six months of qualifying LPN/LVN experience, or approved-school graduation plus one year of qualifying nursing-care work, or graduation from an approved program of at least 24 months; GS-5 requires at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent; GS-6 requires at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent.
• For GS-5, demonstrate practical nursing care knowledge, appropriate teamwork and customer-service skills, medication preparation, administration and documentation skills, emergency response ability, and recognition and reporting of equipment, safety, and supply issues.
• For GS-6, demonstrate proficiency in assigned patient care, clinical judgment and documentation, patient assessment and education, medication administration and treatment skills, emergency response, effective relationships and communication, support for complex diagnostic procedures, and initiative in professional learning.
• U.S. citizen applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated VA employment must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Register for Selective Service if subject to the requirement for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Undergo a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding and application-document requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment after the period.

Nice To Haves

• Primary Care experience.
• Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) experience.
• Cerner Millennium experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care to assigned Veterans.
• Monitor vital signs and observe, record, and report patient responses or changes in condition.
• Assist providers with examinations and procedures.
• Keep Veterans informed about delays and wait times.
• Review the daily clinic schedule for patient-care needs.
• Recognize and respond promptly to urgent or emergent situations.
• Check daily equipment and supplies and restock examination rooms.
• Collaborate with the team to develop comprehensive health care and care management plans.
• Act as a patient advocate.
• Ensure patients understand the content of their visit and when to return to the clinic.
• Perform other assigned duties.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, with regular salary increases and potential consideration for a higher step rate based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees with qualifying family income may receive a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, up to 25% of eligible childcare costs and subject to the stated monthly maximum.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and a federal 401(k) with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED