Licensed Practical Nurse- Inpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration

Sioux Falls (SD)

On-site

USD 43,000 - 70,000

Full time

7 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Shift differential - 10% of basic pay

Weekend premium - 25% of basic pay

Holiday pay - 2x basic hourly rate

Paid time off 37-50 days/year

Parental leave after 12 months

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration in Sioux Falls, SD seeks an LPN/LVN for inpatient mental health. The role focuses on patient-centered care, therapeutic communication, safety rounds, and collaboration with the care team to support Veterans’ recovery.

Responsibilities include monitoring patients, responding to emergencies, participating in team rounds, and assisting in orientation of new staff while maintaining a safe, respectful environment. Salary ranges and federal benefits apply.

Qualifications

Inpatient mental health settings require licensure as an LPN/LVN and state-approved nursing education.
Education programs must be approved by the relevant state agency or accredited by a recognized nursing accreditation body.
Ability to participate in safety rounds, crisis response, and patient-centered care.

Responsibilities

Provide patient-centered nursing care in an inpatient mental health unit.
Support therapeutic recovery and maintain a safe milieu for Veterans.
Collaborate on shift reports, thermatic communication, and team planning.
Respond effectively to emergencies and participate in patient safety rounds.
Orient and train new staff and contribute to unit quality improvements.

Skills

Patient-centered nursing care

Therapeutic communication

Safety rounds

Team collaboration

Education

LPN/LVN licensure

Tools

CPR

Job description

Licensed Practical Nurse- Inpatient Mental Health

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

At the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Licensed Practical Nurses play a vital role in delivering compassionate, recovery-oriented care to Veterans. In this inpatient mental health setting, nurses support patient safety, meaningful connection, and high-quality treatment while working collaboratively to promote healing and dignity.

Key Responsibilities

In this inpatient mental health environment, you will provide patient-centered nursing care, support therapeutic recovery, and maintain a safe and respectful milieu. You will collaborate in team reports, use therapeutic communication, participate in safety rounds, respond effectively to emergencies, and help orient new staff while ensuring Veterans receive consistent, high-quality care.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides 24-hour patient-centered, recovery-oriented nursing care and milieu management. Participates in shift reports, warm hand-offs, and leads psychoeducational groups. Uses therapeutic communication and de-escalation strategies in all interactions. Engages in Mental Health (MH) Environment of Care Rounds, Environmental Safety Rounds, and Patient Safety Rounds.

Maintains professional boundaries and acts in the best interest of the patient. Contributes to unit quality improvement and Mental Health knowledge sharing. Observes and documents patient responses to care, condition, and treatments. Responds effectively to emergencies, initiates CPR, and manages behavioral crises. Administers medications, collects specimens, maintains a safe environment, and ensures supplies are available.

Builds positive relationships, communicates effectively, and assists in orienting and training new staff member Work Schedule: Sunday-Saturday, 8 or 12 hour shifts. Rotating holidays and weekends required. Work is scheduled between 7:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m., or 11:30 p.m.- 7:30 a.m. Additional Pay: Shift Differential - 10% of basic pay for work performed during regularly scheduled hours between 6pm and 6am.

Weekend Premium - 25% of basic pay for work performed between the hours of midnight Friday and midnight Sunday. This includes continuous service connected to work performed during these hours. Holiday Pay - 2 times basic hourly rate for regularly scheduled, non-overtime work on a designated holiday.

Compressed/Flexible: Available Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (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).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. Physical requirements: This position requires some degree of fitness, strength, and agility. Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking.

Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, pulling, lifting arm overhead, and similar activities. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Sioux Falls is part of the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23).

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.

This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Requirements & Education

Your education program must be approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission) at the time the program was completed.

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 Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C.

7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986. OR Individual granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $42850 – $70191/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-09-30.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Internal Search' hiring path.