Practical Nurse (PACT)

VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: Nurse - duties performed will be completed under close supervision with appropriate training and competencies for assigned task.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Demonstrates the exercise of independent technical judgment as well as a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures.
• Demonstrates ability to assist RN and/or Provider to appropriately prioritize overall Veteran care needs and adjust plans for care delivery.
• Seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN and/or Provider of more subtle physical and emotional changes in Veterans condition requiring higher-level intervention and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to readily recognize the more subtle signs and symptoms of potential or actual drug reactions promptly informs the RN and/or Provider of observed changes in Veterans condition and initiates appropriate prescribed interventions.
• Makes astute observations of subtle less obvious changes both physical and emotional in Veterans condition and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and Veterans response to care that could require immediate modification of the Veterans care plan.
• Assists individuals or groups of Veterans families and/or caregivers to take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive Veteran outcomes.
• Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with Veterans families and/or caregivers who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control resistant or abusive behaviors or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions.
• Demonstrates the ability to proactively assist the RN and/or Provider in addressing Veterans needs for medication/treatments accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies/procedures and appropriately recording administration and Veterans response to medications/treatments received. This may include restricted medication locally authorized for administration by employees at this grade level.
• Promotes the incorporation of current Veteran care data in actively contributing to the development and modification of the Veterans overall health/treatment plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions.
• Seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills and provides leadership in assisting other staff to improve and advance their nursing practice.
• Serves as a role model and mentor to other nursing staff in the application of more complex technology effectively guiding and directing their continuing practice in these areas.
• Maintains highest ethical standards ensuring a culture of accountability in the care of Veterans in accordance with established nursing procedures standards of care VA ethical standards and plan of care.

NOTE: Prior to accepting a final employment offer all selected applicants will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding deployment responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination and maintain CDT physical readiness.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Must be able to meet physical demands which include strenuous physical activity to include carrying persons and equipment walking long distances over difficult terrain running climbing working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions long periods of standing and bending and stooping.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• 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 OR granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school AND have at least one year of successful practice as an LPN/ LVN.
  Licensure - Active full current and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States or the District of Columbia.

• Knowledge and skills necessary to care out more specialized patient care duties including assignments in more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings.
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery making astute observations of subtle less obvious changes (both physical and emotional) in patients conditions and taking the appropriate action.
• Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/OD in addressing patients needs for medication/treatments accurately administering prescribed medications/treatments and appropriately recording patients response to medications/treatments received.
• Knowledge and skill to promptly recognize potential urgent or emergent patient care situations.
• Assists individuals or groups of patients and their families to take an active role in promoting health lifestyles for more positive outcomes. Exercises skill in influencing and communicating with unusually difficult to care for or communicate with patients and/or family members who may exhibit problems with lack of self-control resistant or abusive behaviors or impediments in their ability to understand or follow instructions.
• Skill creativity and initiative in contributing to the improvement of overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels.
• Comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices to serve as a resource person for other staff in organizing and implementing more complex/specialized patient care.
• Ability to support the RN or MD/DO in monitoring the practice of unlicensed nursing or non-medical staff in patient care delivery.

• 2-3 years of experience as in LPN/LVN experience related to the area of deployment
• Basic Life Support (BLS)