Licensed Practical Nurse

Summary

The Northport VA Medical Center is now hiring Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)! We have multiple full-time opportunities available across various departments throughout the hospital. Join our team and make a difference in the lives of our nation's Veterans. This is an open continuous announcement until June 26 - 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

Qualifications

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.

Basic Requirements:

• 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: Must be proficient in both written and spoken English (as required by 38 USC 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Education: Must be a graduate of practical nursing approved by the appropriate State accrediting agency and/or the National League for Nursing at the time the program was completed by the applicant
• Licensure: Full - current - active and unrestricted licensure as a graduate licensed practical nurse in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States or District of Columbia
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS-3. None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4. Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria in paragraphs (a) through (c) below: (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-5 (a)Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• (b) Demonstrated 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 MD/DO to appropriately orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants (NAs)/Health Technicians (HTs) 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 - medication - and /or prescribed treatment regimes
• (c) Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients - family members - professional and other] supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care - [incorporating acceptable - established customer service standards into practice
• (d) Knowledge and skill sufficient to prepare - administer - and appropriately document actions taken specific to commonly prescribed oral - topical - subcutaneous - intramuscular - and/or intravenous medications as permitted by approved local facility policies and procedures.(e) Knowledge and ability to recognize the need for and to institute emergency measures when indicated - promptly seek the assistance of the RN or MD/DO - and assist in resuscitation procedures in cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest.(f) Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment - safety hazards - and supply deficiencies - promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action
• GS-6 (a) Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent - fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN
• (b) Technically proficient in initiating - performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• (c) Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions
• to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
• and to accurately recognize - report and record relevant] patient information
• Completed work [should need] only a general review by a registered nurse (RN) or physician (MD/DO) for appropriateness and conformity with established policies/procedures.(d) Ability to 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/LVN recognizes and considers emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic - and age-related factors
• (e) Prepares and administers 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 patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments - promptly and accurately documenting noted changes - and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO
• (f) Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO - and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed
• (g) 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
• (h) Establishes 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 internal/external customers
• (i) Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures - which include preparing the patient - 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
• (j) Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - kneeling - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures.

Duties

• Applications will expire after 90 days
• Applicants will need to update their applications every 90 days to stay current and eligible
• LPN Duties Includes - but not limited to: Provides for the patient's privacy
• Assists with data collection for outpatients and new admissions
• Completes specific sections of the Nursing Admission' Record
• Observes - reports and documents signs and symptoms of patient's general condition
• Participates in patient care conferences - exchanging information about patients' needs and condition
• Provides input into the Nursing Care Plan and/or the Interdisciplinary Plan of Care
• Provides direct nursing care to adult and geriatric patients according to nursing standards and Medical Center policy and procedure
• This includes - but is not limited to: Bathing - showering - oral care - shaving - toe/finger nail care - fingernail clipping - feeding - turning and positioning - and ambulating - while considering age specific needs - e.g
• the geriatric patients' need for lubrication
• Collecting and labeling specimens - e.g
• sputum - emesis - urine - stool
• Rehabilitative Medicine Service program
• Procedures and exercises include but are not limited to: Applying assistive devices to upper and lower extremities - range of motion to upper and lower extremities - manual stretching of joints to prevent contractures - ambulation
• Monitoring progressive self-care activities
• Promoting body alignment with body positioning
• Participates in performance improvement activities
• Participation in Collaborative Treatment and Discharge Planning with Team Members
• Uses computer to meet current CPRS mandates - e mail - leave requests - and other computer initiatives
• Provides for a safe - clean and therapeutic environment including work area
• Follows all safety policies and procedures including using good body mechanics and wearing personal protective equipment as needed
• Setting up and passing instruments using aseptic and/or sterile technique
• Makes frequent rounds on patients - noting environment - changes in patient's behavior and/ or physical condition
• Reports and documents all observed problems and indicates which might have an adverse effect on patients - visitors - or personnel
• Checks patient's personal belongings on admission and discharge - and for contraband when indicated and where applicable
• Performs support duties for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures such as: Reinforces patient teaching
• Assuring presence of signed informed consent
• Assisting with physical examinations
• Assembling supplies and equipment
• Setting up and passing instruments using aseptic and/or sterile technique
• Monitoring patient's condition and providing follow up care
• Caring for - maintaining - and ordering supplies and equipment
• The Licensed Practical Nurse is also responsible and accountable for maintaining required training and may be assigned additional duties as the area needs require
• VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday - Sunday - 12-hour shifts - Days - 7:30 am - 8 pm and Nights- 7:30 pm - 8 am Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available