Licensed Practical Nurse - Specialty Medicine

Join the Minneapolis VA Health Care System at the Northwest Metro VA Clinic as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Specialty Medicine. You will provide outpatient nursing support across multiple specialty clinics, delivering comprehensive patient care, assisting with diagnostic procedures, administering medications, and maintaining efficient, patient-centered clinic operations.

Clinical Setting

This position is based at the Northwest Metro VA Clinic, part of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and the VA Midwest Health Care Network. You will work in a Whole Health System of care model that emphasizes personalized health plans, healing relationships, and community connections for Veterans.

Responsibilities

• Maintain clinic flow by completing intake tasks including vital signs, pain scores, height, weight, pulse oximetry, and clinical reminders
• Perform assigned nursing care such as oxygen therapy, immunizations, medication administration, blood glucose testing, and EKGs
• Assist with delegated minor procedures, ensuring proper equipment setup, patient positioning, comfort, and privacy
• Observe and report physical or emotional changes in patient condition
• Provide patient and family education focusing on self-management, prevention, and wellness
• Document patient responses, care delivered, and treatment outcomes per policy
• Clean and maintain reusable medical equipment according to standard operating procedures

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
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (training provided)
• Successful completion of pre-employment physical evaluation
• Willingness to participate in seasonal influenza vaccination program
• Ability to pass background and security investigation
• Acceptable form of REAL ID-compliant identification

Education

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. Exceptions include health care education or training in military service accepted by the licensing body, or current VHA LPN/LVN employees converted under specific federal statutes.

Experience Requirements by Grade

GS-03: None beyond basic requirements. LPNs at this grade level perform all duties within their license scope; completed work may require routine or detailed higher-level review depending on complexity.

GS-04: Six months of qualifying experience as an LPN or LVN; 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-05: Completion of at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-04 level or equivalent, with demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care, serve as a responsible nursing team member, prepare and administer commonly prescribed medications, recognize emergency situations, and provide effective patient and family education.

GS-06: Completion of at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-05 level or equivalent, with technical proficiency in patient care delivery, ability to use judgment in selecting appropriate procedures and treatments, knowledge of complex diagnostic tests and specialized procedures, and ability to serve as a preceptor for less experienced staff.

Schedule and Employment Terms

• Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
• Full-time, permanent position
• No telework available
• No relocation assistance authorized
• No sign-on bonus authorized
• Subject to a 1 or 2-year trial period during which employment fitness and advancement of the public interest will be evaluated

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular increases; GS-03 to GS-06 pay scale
• Salary range: $52,659 to $87,906 per year
• 37 to 50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 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 or military service experience
• 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% of eligible childcare costs, maximum $416.66 monthly, after 60 days of employment
• Traditional federal pension with 5-year vesting
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contribution
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance (many programs carry into retirement)

Conditions of Employment

• Subject to urinalysis screening for illegal drug use prior to appointment; refusal to be tested results in denial of employment
• Selective Service registration required for males born after December 31, 1959
• Must complete online onboarding process
• Subject to pre-employment reference checks
• Participation in seasonal influenza vaccination program is mandatory for all VA health care personnel; exemptions available for medical or religious reasons require face mask use; violations may result in disciplinary action up to removal from federal service
• This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status
• This position is represented by a union

Application Requirements

To receive full consideration at the GS-05 and GS-06 levels, your application must clearly demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required by the Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse Qualification Standard. You are highly recommended to submit a supplemental document with written responses to the KSAs required at each grade level you wish to be considered. If you do not submit KSA responses, ensure your resume includes detailed experience that fully demonstrates the required KSAs.

Required documents include a resume (using the standard Clinical Resume Document provided), and may include cover letter, DD-214 or Statement of Service, disability letter, full resume/CV, supplemental KSA responses, professional certification, SF-15, SF-50, and transcript if using education to qualify.

Application Deadline

Complete applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on August 24, 2026.