Licensed Practical Nurse- Inpatient Mental Health

About the Role

At the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Licensed Practical Nurses play a vital role in delivering compassionate, recovery‑oriented care to Veterans. In this inpatient mental health setting, nurses support patient safety, meaningful connection, and high‑quality treatment while working collaboratively to promote healing and dignity.

Qualifications

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

• United States Citizenship: Non‑citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Proficiency in basic written and spoken English is required per 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
• 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.
• Licensure: Active, full, current, and unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a State, Territory, Commonwealth (including Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. May qualify under the Grandfathering Provision for current VHA employees meeting VA Qualification Standard criteria.

Grade Determinations (in addition to basic requirements):

• GS‑03: No additional requirements beyond the basics. LPNs perform all duties within the scope of their license; completed work may require routine or detailed higher‑level review depending on complexity.
• GS‑04: Six months of qualifying LPN/LVN experience, OR graduation from an approved school (which may be waived per paragraph 4 of Section C) plus one year of nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical/nursing/patient‑care facility providing practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques, OR graduation from an approved school of at least 24 months duration.
• GS‑05: Completion of at least 1 year of qualifying experience at the GS‑4 level or equivalent; demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with various physical and/or behavioral problems; works with RN/MD/DO to orient/train less experienced LPNs/LVNs and/or Nursing Assistants/Health Technicians; provides effective patient/family education on disease processes, medication, and treatment regimes; serves as a responsible nursing team member interacting appropriately with patients, families, professionals, and support personnel while incorporating customer service standards; knowledge and skill to prepare, administer, and document commonly prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and/or intravenous medications per local facility policies; observes and reports patient response to medication and any changes in condition to RN/MD/DO; recognizes need for emergency measures, seeks RN/MD/DO assistance, and assists in resuscitation procedures; recognizes and reports equipment breakage/malfunction, safety hazards, and supply deficiencies; completed work is under general supervision of an RN or MD/DO; broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures, with more complex practices subject to closer higher‑level review.
• GS‑06: Completion of at least one additional year of qualifying experience at the GS‑5 level or equivalent, fully meeting all GS‑5 performance requirements; technically proficient in initiating, performing, and completing assigned duties for variable patient populations; ability to carry out assigned patient care based on patient condition, use judgment in selecting order/sequence of procedures/treatments, and accurately recognize, report, and record relevant patient information; completed work needs only general review by an RN or MD/DO for appropriateness and conformity with policies/procedures; observes, identifies, and responds to patient needs for medication, equipment‑assisted care, and patient/family education; considers emotional, socio‑economic, and age‑related factors when organizing and delivering care; prepares and administers prescribed medications (oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous) and performs treatments per established policies/procedures; observes and documents physical/emotional changes from medications/treatments and reports deviations to RN/MD/DO; recognizes urgent/emergent patient