Licensed Practical Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • Baltimore, MD

16h • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse provides safe and individualized nursing care to patients in the Primary Care setting. The LPN interacts, collaborates, and communicates effectively with the Veteran, families, caregivers, professionals, and other supportive staff both internal and external. The LPN initiates appropriate actions based on his/her observations of the patient's condition. Position is at the Loch Raven VA Medical Center.

Requirements

• 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 ( https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents ).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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.
• 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.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• 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.
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• 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. 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.
• Licensure - Active, full, current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), of the United States or the District of Columbia.
• GS-03 None beyond the basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved.
• GS-04 (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or(b) Graduation from an approved school (which may be waived as provided in paragraph 4 of Section C) and one year of experience that involved nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures; or (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
• GS-05 Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. Ability to serve as a responsible member of a nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professional and/or other support personnel involved in the delivery of patient care. Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare, administer, and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous medications. This includes observing and documenting patient responses to medication and reporting noted changes in the patient's condition. Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardia and/or pulmonary arrest. Recognize and appropriately respond to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies.
• GS-06 Proficiency 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, using judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments, and accurately recognizing, reporting, and recording relevant patient information Ability to observe, identify, and respond to a 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, 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, documents, and reports physical and/or emotional changes in the patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments. Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations and initiating appropriate emergency interventions as directed. Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations and the 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, 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 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 includes preparing the patient and 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.

Nice To Haves

• One year of LPN experience

Responsibilities

• Carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions; use judgement in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; accurately recognize, report and record relevant patient information. Completed work should need only a general review by a Registered Nurse (RN)/ Provider for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/ procedures
• 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 recognizes and considers emotional, socio-economic, and age-related factors
• Prepare and administer 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 patients condition from prescribed medication/treatments, promptly and accurately documenting noted changes, and reporting any deviations from normal to RN/provider
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent and emergent patient care situation, seek assistance of the RN and/or provider, 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
• Established 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 inter/external customers
• Perform support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures, which include preparing the patients, assisting in the diagnostic exam, preparing and handling specialized instruments or other specialized equipment, and monitoring the patients condition before, during, and following the procedure.
• Serves as preceptor in orienting, educating, and training less experienced LPNs or Nursing Assistants in support duties for these more complex specialized tests/procedures
• 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 provider to appropriately orient/train less experience LPNs and/or Nursing Assistants 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
• Ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact with patients, family members, professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer service standards into practice
• Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measure when indicated, promptly seek the assistant of the RN or provider, and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Federal employee benefits (comprehensive benefits package, including access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career very rewarding)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree