Licensed Practical Nurse - Lab at Veterans Health Administration

About the role

This position is for the Lab located at the Springfield CBOC within Primary Care Service. The primary purpose of the Licensed Practical/License Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) is to perform assigned duties in a manner that promotes quality health care, positive customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran. VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties Include: Promotes quality health care, outstanding customer service, and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the veteran. Observes all policies and procedures per the lab/Ancillary Testing Coordinator. Performs phlebotomy duties using the correct collection equipment and correct order of draw for each test ordered as outlined in DVAMC Laboratory Procedure manual. Checks the AED, glucometer, emergency eye wash and reports any problems. Monitors laboratory specimen refrigerator temperature, reports any problems. Provides for continuity of care in instructing patients about laboratory needs, and/or procedures to be performed prior to next visit and explains to patients and their families/significant others laboratory instructions. Performs QC checks on indicated equipment designated by the Ancillary Testing Coordinator. Completes and maintains mandatory trainings and competency assessments as verified per the Ancillary Testing Coordinator and Nurse Manager. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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 $144,000 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: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93339A - GS-0620-03, 93340A - GS-0620-04, 93341A - GS-0620-05, 93342A - GS-0620-06 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. 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) and 7407(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 Current GS-0620 LPN/LVN employee of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) in implementation of Public Law 98-160, enacted November 21, 1983, or who was converted to an appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405 in implementation of Public Law 99-576, enacted October 28, 1986. OR Individual 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. 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 -Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria below: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; OR Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration (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 Education/Training - Successful completion of a program in practical nursing of a least 9 months' duration combined with 1 year of nursing assistant experience; or successful completion of a 2-year degree program in an accredited community college, junior college, or college or university in practical nursing. For 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. GS-05 Completion of at least one (1) year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the required grade level KSA's as outlined in the Assessment. 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the required grade level KSA's as outlined in the Assessment. 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). 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: This position requires significant physical activity, including standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. Duties involve restraining, repositioning, and transferring patients, using mechanical devices for heavy or difficult lifts, and transporting patients to other areas. The work may require lifting over 50 pounds and climbing stairs. Exposure to infected patients and contaminated materials is possible, necessitating protective clothing in certain situations. Essential skills include visual acuity, good hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and the ability to work with arms above shoulder level and control physical situations. 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. 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.