Licensed Vocational Nurse- Psych (2NE)

Summary

Under the direction of the Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) functions as a member of the nursing team and assists the Registered Nurse in the care of patients. The incumbent functions as LVN, under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors, and other health care professionals and is directed by the RN in the delivery of care of patients in acute, sub-acute or chronic states of illness.

Duties

• The LVN's duties include but are not limited to; Provides nursing care, performs clinical procedures according to specialty, technical procedures and ancillary services for patients. The LVN performs a variety of personal care or nursing care activities. The LVN helps each patient attain optimal physical, physiological, emotional and social well-being. Also: Demonstrates the knowledge and skill necessary to learn to provide care based on physical, psychological, educational, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the age of the patient served in their assigned area. Provides patient monitoring, observation, and documentation (such as vital signs, I's & O's, meals, obtaining patient weight, etc.) Provides input to colleagues, Team Leader/Charge Nurse for making assignments for the incoming tour. Listens attentively to reports and SBAR notes pertinent items and asks for clarification when unsure of content. Formulate a work schedule based on prioritization of patient care needs. Responds to all safety alarms, rapid responses, and codes on the unit/area assigned. Will facilitate as a sitter for patients endorsing SI, HI, wheelchair use, or medical monitoring. Assist patients with ADLs and meals as required, maintaining as much independence as possible. Preserve patient safety, confidentiality, and respect for the patient/family/significant other's rights. Immediately reports observations and knowledge of abuse or neglect of patients and loss or damage of government property. Assist with admissions, discharges, transfers, and death procedures. Assist with transporting patients to procedures, between wards, and at discharge. Provides respectful care that maintains individuality, dignity, and self-esteem. Practice universal precautions and infection control techniques. Uses equipment safely and uses proper body mechanics. Duties require extensive standing and walking, bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pulling, and similar activities using safe patient handling techniques. Performs Environmental safety rounds in the milieu to ensure unit/patient rooms are safe. (Halls are clear, with no broken equipment, beds in the low locked position, no tripping hazards, and no restricted contraband in patient rooms). Practice safe medication use, Five Rights, and safe medical waste disposal. Administers medications as needed, evaluates the effectiveness of PRNs, and reports any adverse side effects of medications to primary RN on time. Accurately documents nursing care, nursing interventions, and patient response for assigned patients in CPRS, ICCA, and bedside/unit paperwork (including, but not limited to q15, minute safety rounds, hourly contraband checks, and additional safety checks as needed following visitation/groups). Complete the belongings sheet, assist with all patient admissions/transfers/discharges to the unit, and notifies the RN/Charge Nurse of necessary findings/remaining requirements. Report to the Charge Nurse, Nurse Manager, and NOD for any patient safety events, including initiating a Joint Patient Safety Report (JPSR) and Disruptive Behavior Reporting System (DBRS). Preferred Experience: -One year of vocational nursing experience preferred, with experience in acute inpatient psychiatric/mental health, behavioral health, or a comparable high-acuity clinical setting highly desirable. -Experience providing care to patients with acute psychiatric conditions, behavioral dysregulation, suicidal or self-harm risk, aggression, or other complex behavioral health needs. -Demonstrated experience with therapeutic communication, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and maintaining a safe therapeutic environment. -Experience administering medications, monitoring medication effectiveness and adverse reactions, obtaining vital signs, and recognizing and promptly reporting changes in a patient's physical or behavioral condition. -Experience working effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team and communicating relevant patient information to registered nurses and other members of the treatment team. -Familiarity with suicide prevention, patient observation levels, contraband/hazardous-item precautions, and behavioral health safety practices preferred. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 0630-1900 with alternating weekends and holidays. May change depending on the needs of the facility. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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. 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. 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: 1.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. 2. VHA employees who were converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) 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. 3. Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school 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 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). Grade Determinations: GS-03 None beyond the basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level are expected to perform all duties within the scope of their license (e.g., medication administration); however, completed work may require routine or detailed higher level review depending upon the complexity of the duties involved. GS-04 (a) Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; or(b) 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 (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration. GS-05 Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the next lower level (GS-4). Additionally an LPN as this level will be able to demonstrate: knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems; demonstrated ability to serve as a responsible member of the nursing team and 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 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. However, completion of more complex practices or procedures may be subject to closer higher-level review. GS-06 Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN. LPN must be technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing car to variable patient populations; Possess 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; Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs; Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures; Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations; Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations.??????? 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: Moderate lifting (up to 44 pounds); Moderate carrying (up to 44 pounds); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking, kneeling and standing up to 1.5 hours; repeated bending; both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted).

Requirements

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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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 examination. 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: 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. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

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/.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/18/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13062351. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.