Practical Nurse

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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.

• 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:
  Practical Nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
• 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.
• EXCEPTION:
  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 11/21/83 – and for VHA employees converted to appointments under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99‑576 – enacted 10/28/86 & 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.
• License:
  Full – active – current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State – Territory or Commonwealth of the United States – or 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:
  In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements – applicants will need to meet the grade level requirements – and the Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities (KSAs).
• To meet the grade level requirement the applicants must have the following listed below:
  Requirements for GS‑3 Grade:
  None beyond the basic requirements.
• Requirements for GS‑4 Grade:
  Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN.
• OR Graduation from an approved school and 1 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.
• Requirements for GS‑5 Grade:
  Possess Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS‑4 level or equivalent.
• AND Demonstrated the following KSAs:
  Demonstrate knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.
• Work with 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.
• Provide 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 interact in an appropriate manner with…