Licensed Practical Nurse

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Retirement plans

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse for the Geriatric & Extended Care Section in Tacoma, WA. The position involves providing direct patient care for Veterans, including administration of medications and monitoring health conditions. Applicants must have an active nursing license and proficiency in English. The role offers competitive pay, benefits, and 37-50 days of annual paid time off. This position requires alternate weekend shifts.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship required as per VA Policy.
• Licensed practical or vocational nurse must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Full, active, current, and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient care and education to residents with diverse health conditions.
• Administer prescribed medications and monitor their effects.
• Assist in admission and discharge procedures of patients.

Skills

Proficient English Language

Patient Care

Emergency Response

Medication Administration

Documentation Skills

Education

Graduate of an approved practical or vocational nursing school

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval—including award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years)—is determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after a complete review of the EDRP application.

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: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) – and 7407(d).
• 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.
• VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98‑160 enacted November 21 – 1983 and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99‑576 enacted October 28 – 1986.
• The waiver will not apply to persons appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) or 7405 after these conversions.
• Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school may qualify.
• 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).
• Licensure: Full, active, current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State – Territory or Commonwealth (e.g., Puerto Rico) of the United States – or District of Columbia.
• Grade Determinations: GS‑03: None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS‑04: Six months of qualifying experience as LPN or LVN.
• GS‑04: Graduation from an approved school 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 practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures.
• GS‑04: Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
• LPNs at the GS‑4 grade level perform all duties expected of employees at the GS‑3 grade level, but are expected to exercise greater judgment, require less supervision, and to operate in accordance with all established policies, procedures and techniques.
• GS‑05: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS‑4 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS‑4. Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
• Provides effective education to patients and/or family members in relation to common disease processes, medication, and/or prescribed treatment regimes.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and interact in an appropriate manner with patients, family members, professionals and other supportive personnel involved in the delivery of patient care, incorporating acceptable, established customer‑service standards into practice.
• Knowledge and skill 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.
• Observation and documentation will include patient’s response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patient’s condition to RN or MD/DO.
• 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.
• Recognizes and appropriately responds to breakage/malfunction or loss of equipment, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies – promptly reporting to appropriate personnel for corrective action.
• Completed work is under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO.
• Individuals at this grade level are expected to have a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures. Completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher‑level review.
• GS‑06: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS‑5 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS‑5 LPN/LVN.
• Technically proficient 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.
• Uses judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments.
• Accurately recognizes, reports and records relevant patient information.
• 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.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies and procedures.
• Observes for physical 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.
• Recognizes urgent or emergent patient care situations – seeks assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO – and initiates 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.
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes – and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills.
• 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 after the procedure.
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills – sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice.
• Preferred Experience: Nursing in long‑term care.
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS‑3 to GS‑6.

Duties

• NOTE: The 2‑page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.
• For more information – refer to Required Documents below.
• VA Careers – Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional. This LPN position works in the Geriatric & Extended Care Section of Nursing Service providing inpatient Veteran resident care for Veterans with acute and chronic health conditions with diverse culture and religious/gender orientation.
• Veterans may need dementia, rehabilitation, long‑term, palliative and/or hospice care.
• Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Respond to patient’s needs including medication, equipment‑assisted care and patient/family education.
• Observes and collects data on patient care activities and progress.
• Assists in the admission and discharge procedures of patients.
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Administers a variety of pain control measures and records effectiveness.
• Administers respiratory therapies as ordered: inhalers – Maximist – pulmonaid – oxygen (cannula/prongs/Mashventimask).
• Monitors/reports/participates in selected aspects of IV therapy and parenteral nutrition – flow rate, site appearance, system integrity, discontinuing IV devices, flushing IV lines with normal saline, administering commercially prepared IV solutions (no additives), safely managing and monitoring the pumps and PCA, documenting all aspects related to IV therapy.
• Provide restorative nursing care per the resident’s care plan.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday, 2:00 pm – 10:30 pm alternating every other weekend.
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
• Contact [e-mail] or [e-mail] – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
• Learn more 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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual – based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• 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 Authorized. Financial Disclosure: Not required.

Benefits

Veteran's Preference will not be applied to this occupation as stated in the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer Bulletin – Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages dated 10/1/2024.