Licensed Practical Nurse - Patient Aligned Care Team

The Licensed Practical Nurse - Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) provides nursing care in a clinic setting at the Washington VA Medical Center, serving veterans with a range of chronic and acute health conditions. This position is part of a patient-centered care model focused on quality health care delivery, positive customer service, and maintaining an environment committed to serving the veteran population.

Responsibilities

• Triage, record, and report vital signs, weight, and blood glucose levels
• Prioritize patient needs as routine, urgent, or emergent and contribute to patient care and treatment as needed
• Complete Clinical Reminders to meet changing patient needs with notification to the RN or provider for concurrence
• Recognize and respond to urgent or emergent patient care needs, including hypo/hyperglycemia, acute shortness of breath, acute chest pain, seizures, stroke symptoms, and mental health issues
• Perform venipuncture for blood draws, prepare specimens for transport and processing, accession labels, and provide patient education about lab tests
• Provide education literature to patients and families about procedure and diagnostic test preparation
• Assist with diagnostic procedures including patient preparation, sterile field setup, instrumentation, and patient monitoring
• Communicate calmly, courteously, and professionally with all patients, personnel, and visitors while maintaining HIPAA confidentiality
• Assist in coordinating care during transitions between inpatient and outpatient settings
• Maintain current annual and professional licensure and certifications, including state LPN licensure and BLS certification
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of disease conditions, nursing principles, and standards to coordinate nursing care and alter care delivery to meet individual patient needs

Clinical Setting

This is a full-time position in a VA Medical Center clinic setting. The role requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The position involves potentially long periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Patient transfer and object movement may be required; mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients, contaminated materials, and patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. Protective clothing may be required in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship
• Graduation from 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 of program completion
• Full, active, current, and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or District of Columbia
• Proficiency in both spoken and written English
• Ability to meet physical requirements of the position
• Completion of 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
• Technical proficiency in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations
• Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on patients' conditions; use judgment in selecting appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments; and accurately recognize, report, and record relevant patient information
• Ability to observe, identify, and respond to patient needs for care, including medication, equipment-assisted care, and patient/family education
• Ability to prepare and administer prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous) and perform treatments according to established policies and procedures
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations, and reactions to situations, and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members, and other staff
• Ability to establish constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes and promote positive relationships, communication, and socialization skills
• Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of Patient Aligned Care Team experience
• Women's Health experience

Conditions of Employment

• Subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment; applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment
• Selective Service Registration required for males born after December 31, 1959
• Subject to background and security investigation
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). All HCP must receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service
• Must complete an online onboarding process and provide acceptable form of identification (REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state-issued identification card required as of May 7, 2025)
• Will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. Upon completion of the trial period, employment will be terminated unless written certification is received that continued employment advances the public interest

Schedule and Work Environment

• Full-time position
• 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Telework is not available
• This is not a virtual position
• Travel is not required

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: $67,547 - $87,810 per year (GS-6)
• Competitive salary with regular salary increases; higher step rates may be determined based on higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit the EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for this incentive
• Sign-on Bonus: Not authorized
• Relocation Assistance: Not authorized

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a complete application package including a long-form resume or curriculum vitae. Additional documents may be required if applicable to eligibility and qualifications, such as transcripts (if using education to qualify), SF-50s (for current or former federal employees), DD-214 or Statement of Service, disability letter, professional license, performance appraisal, professional certification, or other supporting documentation.

Location

Washington VA Medical Center, 50 Irving Street, Northwest, Washington, DC 20422

Position Details

• Announcement Number: CBTF-13080995-27-HW
• Functional Statement Number: PD000000
• Occupational Series: 0620 Practical Nurse
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Federal Service Type: Excepted Service (does not confer competitive status)
• Represented by a union: Yes
• Drug test: Yes
• Background check type: Credentialing and Suitability/Fitness
• Security clearance: Not required
• Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
• Supervisory status: No
• Promotion potential: 6

Application Deadline

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on October 7, 2026.