Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Mental Health/Mhrrtp

Veterans Health Administration • Bay Pines, FL

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) provides recovery-oriented nursing care to Veterans in a mental health/MHRRTP setting. The position promotes quality health care, positive customer service, and an environment committed to serving Veterans. The nurse implements interventions based on Veterans’ goals in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, uses evidence-based tools to assess mental health and substance use symptoms, evaluates psychosocial functioning, and triages needs as they arise.

The LPN/LVN provides direct nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings, documents care and changes in patients’ conditions, performs nursing procedures appropriate to the assigned area, and supports diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The nurse also participates in structured activities and interdisciplinary treatment meetings, contributes to performance improvement and shared governance, and follows applicable program requirements and procedures.

This is a full-time temporary appointment, not to exceed May 1, 2028. The work schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The actual grade may range from GS-3 to GS-6, with GS-6 as the full performance level. The position may require travel between VA facilities or community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), and a valid driver’s license is required if travel is required.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy because qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Graduation from a practical or vocational nursing school approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by NLNAC when the program was completed, or an accepted military education/training exception. An alternative qualification may apply to an applicant licensed in a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school, with at least one year of successful LPN/LVN practice.
• Active, full, current, and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; applicable grandfathering provisions may apply to current VHA employees.
• GS-4 qualification: six months of qualifying LPN/LVN experience; or graduation from an approved school and one year of qualifying nursing care work experience in an appropriate supervised setting; or graduation from an approved school with a duration of at least 24 months.
• GS-5 qualification: at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent, along with the stated knowledge and abilities in practical nursing care, nursing-team collaboration, medication preparation, administration and documentation, emergency response, and recognition of equipment and safety issues.
• GS-6 qualification: at least one additional year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent and the stated abilities in patient care, clinical judgment, medication administration and monitoring, emergency response, patient and family interaction, and support for complex diagnostic tests or specialized procedures.
• BLS certification is required.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Pass required background and security investigation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, undergo pre-appointment urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification and required application documents.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.
• Meet physical demands that include prolonged standing, bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching, and lifting moderately heavy items; above-average agility and dexterity are required.
• Possess a valid driver’s license if required to travel between VA and/or CBOC locations.

Nice To Haves

• Three to five years of LPN experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide recovery-oriented care and implement interventions based on Veterans’ goals in collaboration with the Veteran and interdisciplinary team.
• Use evidence-based tools to assess and measure symptoms of mental health and substance use disorders, such as CIWA, COWS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and CSSRS.
• Use best practices when caring for Veterans at risk for suicide and evaluate psychosocial functioning.
• Triage Veterans’ needs as they arise.
• Understand and carry out Nursing program objectives and requirements, following guidelines to meet and maintain program requirements.
• Provide direct nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Document care, observations, and patient responses using appropriate tools or forms, and observe changes in patient condition, including behavior, mood, skin color, and appetite.
• Perform nursing procedures appropriate to the assigned area and in accordance with policy, guidelines, and senior nursing staff oversight; procedures may include sterile techniques, blood glucose monitoring, catheterization, suctioning, wound care, colostomy care, tube feeding, tracheotomy care, oxygen therapy, deep breathing and coughing, and specimen collection.
• Follow applicable Standard Operating Procedures for pretreatment and cleaning of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD).
• Respect patient autonomy and promote independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Communicate calmly and in a non-judgmental, non-threatening manner.
• Take and accurately record vital signs, height, and weight in the Electronic Health Record.
• Assist healthcare providers with procedures by assembling equipment, positioning or holding patients, and handling equipment or instruments.
• Prepare patients for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
• Use appropriate therapeutic interventions and recognize and respond appropriately to patients requiring nursing care, including seriously ill, disturbed, confused, or wandering patients.
• Support performance improvement initiatives by identifying problems, collecting data, and supporting change.
• Identify, report, and document changes in patient behavior or condition to the RN and appropriate treatment team members.
• Participate in structured activities, such as groups, orientation, and diversional activities, based on patient care needs.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, sharing observations and patient responses to interventions.
• Participate in unit-based and/or organizational Shared Governance councils, applying clinical expertise, evidence-based practice, and knowledge to help improve quality of care for Veterans.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified and eligible new federal appointees or former federal employees with at least a 90-day break in service.

What This Job Offers

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