Qualifications

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), 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
• 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) 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 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 Preferred Experience: Emergency Department Previous paramedic or EMT 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)
• Grade Determinations: 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
• LPN must be technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing car to variable patient populations
• Possess knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions
• to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
• Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs
• Prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular and/or intravenous) and performs treatments according to established policies/procedures
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (up to 44 pounds)
• Moderate carrying (up to 44 pounds)
• Straight pulling and pushing
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking, kneeling and standing up to 1.5 hours
• repeated bending
• both legs required
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to 1 to 4
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• both eyes required
• depth perception
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• ability to distinguish shades of colors
• Hearing (aid permitted).