Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse

Veterans Health Administration; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 35,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Federal Pension

401K with VA contributions

Health insurance

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration in Little Rock, AR seeks a Primary Care Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to provide age-specific nursing care in an outpatient clinic. You will perform assessments, administer medications, teach patients, and collaborate with RNs and clinicians to implement care plans.

Responsibilities include wound care, specimen collection, vital signs, and safety procedures, with a focus on geriatric and adult patient needs. Strong teamwork and documentation are essential.

Qualifications

• Licensed Practical Nurse with 1–2 years in primary care preferred.
• Strong ability to perform nursing procedures and patient assessments.
• Experience in an outpatient clinic setting is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care to adult and geriatric patients per standards.
• Perform vital signs, wound care, specimens, and basic diagnostics.
• Administer medications and vaccines per competency.
• Collaborate with RN and providers; document in medical records.

Skills

Patient care

Vital signs

Emergency response

Patient teaching

Education

LPN license

Tools

CPRS

Job description

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

The Primary Care Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) functions as a member of the nursing and treatment teams as assigned. The Primary Care LPN provides complex age-specific nursing care for adult and geriatric patients with physical, mental, behavioral, or psychosocial needs, according to assignment and training in the outpatient clinic setting.

Key Responsibilities

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Provides direct nursing care to adult and geriatric patients according to nursing standards and CAVHS policy and procedure. This includes, but is not limited to: Collecting and labeling specimens, e.g., blood, sputum, urine, stool. Providing bowel/bladder training, applying external urinary devices, performing bladder catheterization. Setting up and initiating oxygen therapy, including nebulization treatments.

Providing wound care and reporting any changes and/or progress to the RN and provider. Providing for lifting, moving, transferring, and/or transporting patients without any personal limitations or physical restrictions. Using patient lifting devices and electronic scales without any personal limitations or physical restrictions. Applying abdominal binders, anti-embolic stockings, ace bandages as ordered. Implements established care plans.

Evaluates patient's progress based on observed data. Recommends modification to the care and/or treatment plan as needed. Recognizes progress or subtle changes in the patient's behavior and/or physical condition, initiates appropriate action, reports actions to the RN and provider and documents in the medical record. Recognizes and initiates emergency measures consistent with training.

Assist appropriately and applies concepts for the prevention and management of disruptive while providing for physical and safety needs. Calls Code Blue appropriately and initiates basic life support as needed. Uses identified learning needs to provide patient teaching and documents teaching in the medical record. The LPN is able to identify/apply age specific considerations, e.g., the geriatric population's proneness to visual or hearing impairment.

Teaching may include diabetic self-care, activities of daily living, coughing, deep breathing, suctioning and tracheostomy care, self-administration of medication and additional procedures as directed by the registered nurse and provider. Assumes an educational role with co-workers.P Performs such diagnostic procedures such as obtaining vital signs, pain screen, pulse oximetry, bladder scanning, 1&0, heights, weights, fingerstick blood sugars, and EKGs.

Recognizes deviations from normal. Documents and reports results to the registered nurse and/or physician. Administers oral, subcutaneous, and intramuscular medications. Administers immunizations independently upon completion of competency. Observes, reports, and documents patient's response to medication including adverse reactions and possible medication errors.

Observes, documents, and reports unpredictable behavior that may lead to violence, potential for injury related to fall risk. Caring for, maintaining, and ordering supplies and equipment, including reporting equipment malfunctions. 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.

Uses computer to meet current CPRS mandates, e-mail, leave requests, and other computer initiatives. Participation in interdisciplinary treatment and discharge planning with team members. Assumes initiative and responsibility for completing recurring assignments and, when necessary, assists co-workers in completion of their assignments.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the service) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

• 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
• Functional Statement #: 598-01548-F/01549-F/01550-F/01551-F
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

GS-06: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities continued: 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. 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: 1-2 years Primary Care clinic experience 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: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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 $35048 – $82072/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-10-13.

Who is eligible to apply?

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