Licensed Practical Nurse - Long Term Care

Job Summary

Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies. The LPN demonstrates unit/department specific competencies, and competency in caring for adult and geriatric residents. Patients receiving care in the long term care setting, and are being treated for any number of medical and psychological conditions.

Major Duties

• Explains procedures to residents, using language which they understand and displaying consideration of individual resident needs.
• Ensures that the physical and emotional environment is consistent with the vision for resident-centered care.
• Maintains self-control and responds consistently to the requirements of the work situation.
• Maintains a positive attitude in accepting temporary reassignment to meet patient care needs.
• Responds to residents' calls for assistance promptly and interacts with the resident in a tactful, courteous manner, making customer service the focus of all interactions.
• Communicates respectfully and works effectively with administrative staff, the health care team, unit staff, residents, and visitors.
• Provides emotional support to residents, and families/significant others to assist them in adjusting to changes brought about by illness or change in health status.
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual residents to elicit feelings and attitudes and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills.
• Hospice/Palliative care needs are supported as needed based on resident self-determination.
• Fosters an environment of respect for individual resident and family/significant other rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery.
• Serves as Veteran's/family/significant others' advocate.
• Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with residents, family members/significant others and/or internal/external customers.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and self-direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing assignments, including assignments for, long-term, short-term rehabilitation, respite, hospice/palliative care, and psychiatric residents requiring skilled nursing care.
• Demonstrates ability to use judgment in selecting the most appropriate application of procedures and guidelines, varying the order and sequence of assigned procedures based on the resident's condition.
• Completed work needs only a general review by a RN for technical soundness, appropriateness and conformity with policy and nursing assignments.
• Prepares and administers prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, inhaled medications, controlled substances, and suppositories according to policy and procedure.
• Correctly documents medications given or omitted in Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) according to established policy and procedures.
• Documents effects of medications.
• Observes and documents resident changes in condition; examples such as bleeding, vomiting, fainting, skin changes, behavioral concerns, etc. to the Charge Nurse or RN.
• Promptly reports untoward patient incidents; examples medication errors, falls, etc. to Charge Nurse/Nursing Supervisor, and initiates incident report.
• Appropriately initiates emergency response teams: Rapid Response Team (RRT), Code Blue, Stroke-Cardiac alerts and responds to emergency situations including cardiopulmonary arrest, choking, and disaster or fire drills.
• Demonstrates practical knowledge of human behavior, motivations and reactions to situations. Uses this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family and other staff members.
• As an interdisciplinary team member, provides input into the care planning process, assists and provides teaching in activities of daily living (ADLs) to residents and encourages them to participate in ADLs leading to increase independence.
• Provides or reinforces resident/family/significant other teaching related to medications, disease process, procedures, and self-care activities. Considers physical, emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic and age-related factors.
• Participates in more complex teaching for resident self-care, such as diabetic care, self-catheterization, etc. in anticipation of discharge.
• Participates in a restorative program based on the needs of resident.
• Performs a wide range of treatments and procedures utilizing established nursing care plans and auxiliary equipment according to policy, including but not limited to: application of heat and cold, wound care, changing complex sterile and clean dressings, administering suppositories, cleansing and retention enemas, tube feedings, weights, vital signs, glucose finger sticks, specimen collection, intake and output, colostomy irrigation, oxygen, orthopedic traction, spirometry, nebulizer treatments, and standard 12 lead EKGs, and care of well-established tracheostomies and laryngectomies.
• Performs oropharyngeal, tracheostomy, and tracheal suctioning, and tracheostomy and laryngectomy care.

Work Schedule

Evening/Nights, 8-hour shifts and 12-hour shifts.

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/.

Requirements

• 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 forms 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 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

Evaluations

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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 04/09/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12923686. 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.

What To Expect Next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Benefits

BenefitsUrl: http://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/benefits/index.asp

Other Information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Key Requirements

• Within Area: False
• Commute Distance: 0
• Service Type: 02
• Announcement Closing Type: 01

Agency Contact

• Email: Antiha.Jenkins@va.gov
• Phone: 404-375-4339

Security Clearance

Other

Drug Test Required

True

Position Sensitivity

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Adjudication Type

CredentialingSuitability/Fitness

Key skills/competency

• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Long Term Care
• Geriatric Care
• Patient Care
• Medication Administration
• Wound Care
• Emergency Response
• Resident Rights
• Health Assessment
• Interdisciplinary Teamwork