Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• United States
• 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
• Verification can be obtained from the State approving agency [or] the National League for Nursing [Accrediting Commission], 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006
• Additional information may also be obtained from the NLNAC Website
• Exceptions include: (1) 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
• (2) 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
• [(3) Individuals granted a license by a jurisdiction that does not require graduation from an approved school
• See licensure section below
• 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
• Grade Requirements
• Practical Nurse GS-3: Qualifications - 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
• Practical Nurse GS-4: Qualifications - Employees may be appointed at or advanced to GS-4 if they meet any of the criteria in paragraphs 3b(2)(a) through (c) below:(a)Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN
• OR (b) Graduation from an approved school (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 (c) Graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration
• 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
• Practical Nurse GS-5: Qualifications - Must have completed of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or equivalent
• You must also possess the required KSA's as outlined in the assessment
• Practical Nurse GS-6: Qualifications - Must have completed at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS-5 LPN/LVN
• You must also possess the required KSA's as outlined in the assessment
• Preferred Experience: 1-2 Years of Acute care and/or Ambulatory/Out-Patient clinic care PACT experience
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English
• The full performance level is a GS-06
• You may be selected at the GS-3, 4, 5 or 6 Level
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 and local LPN/LVN physical standards
• References: VA Handbook 5005/3, Part II, Appendix G13.