Practical Nurse GI

Summary

The Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) – GS‑7 performs more complex nursing assignments within their setting. The LPN/LVN possesses comprehensive practical nursing knowledge and skills in specialized procedures and practices. The LPN/LVN GS‑7 role is of considerable difficulty, and responsibility is performed under general supervision. Individuals in these positions are to a considerable extent expected to exercise independent technical judgments.

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.
• Education:
  
  The Qualification Standard authorizes the waiver of the requirement that licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses graduate from an approved school.
• 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.
• Qualifications:
  
  The GS‑7 grade level is for select, complex LPN/LVN positions – as established by each health‑care facility.
• To be advanced, employees must meet all of the following standards – provided the standard is part of their assignment:
• Completion of at least one (1) year of additional qualifying experience at the GS‑6 level or equivalent – fully meeting all of the performance requirements for the GS‑6 LPN/LVN.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to carry out more specialized patient care duties – including assignments in selected, more complex inpatient and/or outpatient care settings.
• Knowledge base promotes the incorporation of current patient care data in actively contributing to the development of the patient’s overall health plan and in carrying out assigned nursing interventions.
• Ability to assist RN and/or MD/DO to appropriately prioritize overall patient care needs and adjust plans for care delivery.
• Makes astute observations of subtle—less obvious changes—both physical and emotional—in patient’s condition and accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patient’s response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient’s care plan.
• Appropriately seeks assistance and guidance by informing RN or MD/DO of changes in patient’s condition requiring higher‑level intervention.
• At this grade level – the LPN/LVN is expected to participate to a greater degree in prioritizing – and – as appropriate – modifying patient care treatment.
• They must also possess the ability to observe more subtle physical and emotional changes in patients and demonstrate taking appropriate action based on those observations.
• Ability to proactively assist the RN or MD/DO in addressing patient’s needs for medication/treatments – accurately administering prescribed…