Practical Nurse (Ambulatory Care)

VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) reports to the designated Nurse Manager and is responsible and accountable for the provision of patient care and for delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse veteran patient population (internal/external). Performs practical nursing measures with precision and efficiency consistent with Medical Center Policy and procedure and within legal and ethical responsibilities of his/her licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Demonstrate working practices that include adherence to infection control standards and the safe use and operation of equipment. Seeks guidance from RN and/or provider regarding resolution of clinical issues. May be assigned other duties deem necessary to support organizational goals. All other duties as assigned. The incumbent may receive a variety of additional assignments or special projects either to meet the needs of the medical center or designed for professional growth of the individual.

The Hampton VA Health Care System Center is a 1-C teaching facility serving Eastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina. The main campus is in Hampton Virginia with 4 community-based outpatient clinics in Chesapeake Portsmouth and Virginia Beach Virginia and Elizabeth City North Carolina.

Work Schedule: 8:00am--4:30pm
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): 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 $144000 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: No authorized.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Must pass a physical evaluation
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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.
• 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. Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission 61 Broadway 33rd Floor New York NY 10006. Additional information may also be obtained from the NLNAC Website.
  • 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; and for their future personnel actions under this authority. 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. See paragraph 4 section C.
• Licensure. Full active current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States or District of Columbia. An LPN/LVN who has or has ever had any license(s) revoked suspended denied restricted limited or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3 section B paragraph 16 of this part.
• 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).

• Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or
• 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
• 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; however they are expected to exercise greater judgment require less supervision and to operate in accordance with all established policies procedure and techniques.

• 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.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and 4 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.
• 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. Observation and documentation will include patients response to medication administered and the reporting of any noted change in patients condition to RN or MD/DO.

• 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; 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.
• Ability to observe identify and respond to the patients needs for care including medication equipment-assisted care and patient/family organizing and delivering care the LPN/LVN recognizes and considers emotional socio-economic and age-related factors.