Licensed Practical Nurse-Community Living Center

The Lexington VA Health Care System is seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for the Community Living Center, which provides rehabilitation, hospice, and continuing care services to 51 veterans. This position is essential to meeting resident care needs and supporting the facility's quality improvement initiatives.

As an LPN, you will work under the direction of the Registered Nurse and preceptor, providing direct nursing care within your scope of practice. You will be responsible for medication administration, resident observations, restorative care, and data collection to support care planning and quality standards. You will participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to develop resident-centered care goals with a focus on rehabilitation, restoration, and support.

Responsibilities

• Administer medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous) and document patient responses
• Observe and monitor resident conditions and progress toward care plan goals
• Report unexpected changes in resident condition to appropriate team members in a timely manner
• Implement care plans focused on preventing deterioration and maintaining optimal function, independence, and comfort
• Provide rehabilitative, restorative, and supportive nursing care daily
• Recognize and respond to population-specific resident needs
• Collect data for Advancing Excellence software requirements and quality of life assessments
• Recognize urgent or emergent situations and initiate appropriate emergency interventions
• Assist with complex diagnostic tests and specialized procedures as needed
• Perform support duties including equipment operation and patient monitoring

Clinical Setting

The Community Living Center serves veterans in a long-term care environment with a focus on rehabilitation, hospice, and continuing care. You will work closely with an interdisciplinary team and interact regularly with patients, family members, and professional support personnel.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship
• Active, full, current, and unrestricted licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth
• Graduation from a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate state agency and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) at the time of completion, OR military health care education accepted by the licensing body, OR licensure from a jurisdiction not requiring graduation from an approved school with at least one year of successful LPN/LVN practice
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Ability to perform work requiring regular walking, bending, lifting 45 pounds or more, stooping, reaching, stretching, and similar activities
• Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity
• Ability to work closely with others and respond to various alarms
• Ability to care for veterans with various medical and psychiatric issues, including those exhibiting unpredictable behavior
• Subject to urinalysis screening for illegal drug use prior to appointment
• Subject to background and security investigation
• Selective Service registration required for males born after December 31, 1959
• Participation in seasonal influenza vaccination program is a condition of employment

Education

Graduation from an accredited school of practical or vocational nursing. Only education from institutions accredited by accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education will be credited. Foreign education must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Licenses and Certifications

• Active, full, current, and unrestricted Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) license

Schedule and Shifts

• Full-time permanent position
• 12-hour shifts with rotation to days, nights, and other shifts as needed
• Work schedule includes regular rotation between shift times

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary based on GS-3 to GS-6 pay scale (full performance level GS-6)
• Salary range: $48,902 to $82,157 per year
• Regular salary increases
• Paid time off: 37 to 50 days annually (13 to 26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service
• Parental leave: Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave after 12 months of employment
• Child care subsidy: Eligible full-time employees with family income below $144,000 may receive up to 25% subsidy of eligible childcare costs (maximum $416.66 monthly) after 60 days of employment
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance
• Traditional federal pension (5-year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contributions
• Federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement
• No recruitment or relocation incentives authorized
• No permanent change of station assistance authorized

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to perform work involving regular and recurrent walking, bending, lifting 45 pounds or more, stooping, reaching, stretching, and similar activities. You will frequently push medication carts, wheelchairs, lifts, and beds. You must have visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. You will be subject to exposure to communicable diseases and biohazard materials, requiring the use of personal protective equipment such as gloves and protective clothing.

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply
• Subject to urinalysis screening for illegal drug use prior to appointment; refusal to be tested will result in denial of employment
• Selective Service registration required for males born after December 31, 1959
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Subject to background and security investigation
• Must complete an online onboarding process with acceptable identification (REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state-issued ID required as of May 7, 2025)
• Participation in seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for all VA health care personnel; exemptions available for medical or religious reasons require wearing a face mask; violations may result in disciplinary action up to removal from federal service
• Subject to a 1 or 2-year trial period during which fitness and advancement of public interest will be evaluated; employment will be terminated upon completion unless written certification is received that continued employment advances the public interest
• Telework is not available
• This is not a virtual position
• Travel is not required
• This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous long-term care experience

Grade Determination

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. Applicants may be selected at grades GS-3 through GS-6 based on qualifications:

GS-3: No experience beyond basic requirements. LPNs at this grade perform all duties within their scope of license; completed work may require routine or detailed higher-level review depending on complexity.

GS-4: Six months of qualifying LPN/LVN experience, OR graduation from an approved school plus one year of nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical or patient care facility, OR graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.

GS-5: Knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with various physical and behavioral problems; ability to serve as a responsible nursing team member; knowledge and skill in preparing, administering, and documenting oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous medications; ability to recognize and institute emergency measures and assist in resuscitation; ability to recognize and respond to equipment malfunction, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies.

GS-6: Proficiency in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties for variable patient populations; knowledge and ability to carry out patient care based on patient conditions using appropriate judgment; ability to observe, identify, and respond to patient needs including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education; ability to prepare and administer prescribed medications and perform treatments; knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent situations and initiate appropriate interventions; knowledge of human behavior and patient motivations; knowledge and skill in supporting complex diagnostic tests and specialized procedures.