Licensed Practical Nurse/ Vocational Nurse- Geriatrics and Extended Care

Veterans Health Administration • Lake City, FL

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN) supports the Community Living Center’s interdisciplinary model of care by providing competent, evidence-based nursing care to assigned patients and, as appropriate to the setting, overseeing licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants. The LPN collaborates with interdisciplinary team members, patients, and families to contribute to individualized plans of care for residents in geriatrics and extended care.

The role includes assessing and documenting relevant patient information, selecting and sequencing procedures based on patient condition, teaching and encouraging activities of daily living, reinforcing education about medications, disease processes, procedures, and self-care, and supporting a home-like environment that respects resident preferences. The nurse provides wound and pain management, care for clinical conditions, emotional support to residents and families, and medication preparation, administration, and documentation through authorized routes. The role also includes compassionate support for families during end-of-life care and assistance with arrangements after death.

This is a permanent VA position with a full performance level of GS-6; applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-6. The schedule consists of 12-hour day or night shifts, with rotating weekends and holidays. A $5,000 recruitment/relocation incentive is authorized. The position is not eligible for telework and is not virtual.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exceptions for non-citizens under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Graduate of an approved practical or vocational nursing program, or qualify under one of the stated education exceptions.
• Full, active, current, unrestricted LPN/LVN license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, unless covered by the specified grandfathering provision.
• Meet the experience and competency requirements for the grade sought: GS-3 requires no experience beyond basic requirements; GS-4 requires qualifying experience or an eligible education/experience pathway; GS-5 requires one year of qualifying GS-4-equivalent experience and specified practical nursing competencies; GS-6 requires one additional year of qualifying GS-5-equivalent experience and specified competencies.
• Strong clinical and observational skills, experience caring for geriatric populations, pain-management experience, and ability to provide substantial emotional support.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and applicable background/security investigation.
• Complete required pre-employment screening, including urinalysis for applicants selected for testing-designated positions, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Provide required work experience details in the resume and complete application and onboarding requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of LPN clinical experience in geriatrics, long-term care, and/or medical-surgical care.
• Previous experience with a geriatric population.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with healthcare providers, patients, and families to develop and implement resident-specific care plans.
• Accurately report and record significant patient information and use judgment to select and sequence procedures according to patient condition.
• Teach and encourage residents to participate in activities of daily living to promote independence.
• Provide or reinforce patient and family education regarding medications, disease processes, procedures, and self-care, including more complex self-care activities where appropriate.
• Support a home-like environment that honors resident choices and preferences for daily routines and activities.
• Manage wounds, pain, and clinical conditions, and provide emotional support to residents and families.
• Prepare, administer, and document medications through applicable routes, including oral, sublingual, subcutaneous, intravascular, and intramuscular routes.
• Support family members compassionately during end-of-life care and assist with necessary arrangements for the body after death.
• Oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• $5,000 recruitment/relocation incentive (sign-on bonus).
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual for prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed