Licensed Practical-Vocational Nurse (Ambulatory Care- Float Pool)

Veterans Health Administration • Bedford, MA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in Nursing Service, Ambulatory Care, at the VA Bedford Healthcare System in Bedford, Massachusetts. The Outpatient Primary Care Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) provides technically proficient, patient-centered nursing care under the supervision and direction of a registered nurse or provider, supporting safe and efficient clinical operations and high-quality care. The role serves the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) and requires practice consistent with the applicable Nurse Practice Act and established policies and procedures. The full performance level is GS-6; applicants may be selected at GS-3 through GS-6.

The nurse performs focused health screenings and nursing interventions; reinforces patient education, preventive care, and continuity of services; and completes preventive procedures, nursing tasks, chart reviews, panel scrubbing, daily huddles, and visit preparation. The position supports clinic flow through patient rooming, provider assistance, room turnover, screening reminders, and pre-visit calls. It also involves assisting with complex diagnostic tests or specialized procedures, preparing patients and equipment, and monitoring patients before, during, and after procedures. The nurse may serve as a preceptor for less experienced LPNs/LVNs, nursing assistants, or health technicians and is expected to pursue learning opportunities and share knowledge with staff.

The role includes reviewing records and appointments, obtaining missing documentation, preparing clinical data, identifying suitable alternate care modalities, tracking consults, and serving as backup for post-discharge calls. The nurse participates in PACT meetings and huddles, collaborates on access, continuity, quality, and patient-experience goals, and completes or routes secure messages with general supervisory review. The work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Travel to other VA campuses and community-based outpatient clinics may be required. The position may require flexibility in scheduling and assignments.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Full, active, current, and unrestricted LPN or LVN licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, or eligibility under the stated grandfathering provision for qualifying current VHA employees.
• Graduation from a practical or vocational nursing school approved by the appropriate state agency or accredited by NLNAC, subject to the stated exceptions for qualifying military training and other specified cases.
• For GS-4: six months of qualifying LPN/LVN experience; or graduation from an approved school plus one year of qualifying nursing-care work; or graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
• For GS-5: at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent, plus the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities in practical nursing care, orientation and training, patient education, teamwork, medication administration and documentation, emergency response, and reporting equipment or safety issues.
• For GS-6: at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting GS-5 performance requirements, plus the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities in patient care, clinical judgment, observation and documentation, medication administration, emergency response, patient and family relations, customer service, and support for complex diagnostic tests and specialized procedures.
• Complete required application and onboarding processes and pass the required background/security investigation.
• Applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated positions must submit to urinalysis for illegal drug screening; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and certification requirements.
• Meet applicable education-recognition requirements; foreign education used for qualification requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.
• The position includes direct patient-care physical demands, including prolonged walking, standing, and sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending or kneeling, and use of safe patient-handling and mobility protocols.
• Flexibility in scheduling and assignments may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in Primary Care.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-centered practical nursing care under the supervision and direction of an RN or provider.
• Initiate and complete focused health screenings and appropriate nursing interventions, supporting patient safety and clinic flow.
• Reinforce patient education, preventive care, and continuity of services.
• Complete preventive procedures, nursing tasks, chart reviews, panel scrubbing, daily huddles, and visit preparation.
• Room patients, assist providers, manage room turnovers, complete screening reminders, and conduct pre-visit calls.
• Review patient records, obtain missing documentation, note changes in conditions or treatments, and prepare clinical data before visits.
• Prepare patients for diagnostic examinations; assist with examinations; prepare and handle specialized instruments and equipment; and monitor patients before, during, and after procedures.
• Review upcoming appointments, identify appropriate alternate care modalities, facilitate consult tracking, and provide backup for post-discharge calls.
• Participate in PACT meetings, pre-planning, daily huddles, and team meetings to support care coordination and clinic operations.
• Assist with immunizations, injections, procedures, prevention efforts, and chaperoning when appropriate.
• Contribute to panel management by reviewing schedules, identifying appropriate visit modalities, and completing or routing secure messages.
• Serve as a preceptor, orienting, educating, and training less experienced LPNs/LVNs or nursing assistants/health technicians.
• Seek educational opportunities and share new knowledge with staff to improve nursing practice.
• Observe and document patient responses to medications and treatments, and report changes or deviations to an RN or provider.
• Recognize urgent or emergent situations, seek assistance, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed.
• Travel to other VA campuses and community-based outpatient clinics when required.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Selected applicants may request prior work or military service credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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