To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement,01/27/2025.
Basic Requirements:
- Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.
- Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), previously known as 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 Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), previously known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006. Additional information may also be obtained from the ACEN Website. 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.
- 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.
- English Language Proficiency. Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English.
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met.
GS-03:
Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
GS-04:
Experience. Six months of qualifying experience as a LPN or LVN.
OR
Experience and Education. Graduation from an approved school 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. Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
LPNs at 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:
You may qualify based on your experience or education as described below:
Experience. Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-4 LPN/LVN. You will be rated on the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's) based on your application for this position. Please make sure that each is addressed in detail in the body of your resume.
For the FULL list of KSA's used for qualifications please refer to: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G13, LICENSED PRACTICAL OR VOCATIONAL NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD
GS-06:
You may qualify based on your experience or education as described below:
Experience. Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent and fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN.
You will be rated on the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's) based on your application for this position. Please make sure that each is addressed in detail in the body of your resume.
For the FULL list of KSA's used for qualifications please refer to: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G13, LICENSED PRACTICAL OR VOCATIONAL NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD
Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G13, LICENSED PRACTICAL OR VOCATIONAL NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD.
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.
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action
- Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
- An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
- Award 50's d not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
- Examples f appropriate SF-50's include:
- Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
- Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
- SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
- Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement. For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/.
- All Title 38 Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) employees must have served in their Excepted Service position for at least 90 days in order to be eligible for a position within the Competitive Service.
- Applicants who were previously selected under a Competitive Delegating Examining Unit (DEU) announcement must have served in their position for at least 90 days prior to being eligible for other positions within the Competitive Service.
In addition to the qualification above you must also have:
- Specialized Experience/Education/Combination of Experience and Education.
Physical Requirements:
The LPN requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting. S/he may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. S/he may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. S/he must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing on hire, as a condition of employment. In the performance of duties, s/he may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.