Licensed Practical Nurse - Lab

About the role

The Licensed Practical Nurse – Lab provides care and counseling of patients and promotes healthy living to prevent illness, injury, and chronic disease. The role utilizes the nursing process—including systematic data collection, monitoring, nursing judgment, and evaluation of human response—to address actual or potential health problems. This position also performs a wide variety of laboratory and equipment tests.

Qualifications

• United States citizenship (non‑citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy).
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
• Active, full, current, unrestricted licensure as a Graduate Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse in a U.S. state, territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Education requirements as detailed in the announcement’s Education Section.
• Grade‑specific experience:
  • GS‑03 – meets basic requirements only.
  • GS‑04 – at least six months qualifying LPN/LVN experience, or graduation from an approved 24‑month program plus one year of nursing‑care experience in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or similar facility.
  • GS‑05 – at least one year at the GS‑04 level (or equivalent) and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care, educate patients/families, and serve as a responsible team member.
  • GS‑06 – at least one year at the GS‑05 level (or equivalent), technically proficient in initiating and completing assigned duties, capable of independent judgment and documentation, and able to precept less‑experienced staff.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in medication administration, emergency response, equipment handling, patient education, and support of complex diagnostic tests.

Responsibilities

• Maintain clinic flow by completing intake, obtaining, recording, and reporting vital signs and measurements.
• Collaborate effectively with all disciplines and levels of care regarding patient needs.
• Assist with delegated minor procedures and treatments, ensuring equipment availability, patient positioning, comfort, and privacy.
• Provide patient and family health education, including self‑management, prevention, and wellness.
• Collect blood, urine, or other specimens from outpatients for a wide variety of laboratory and technical equipment tests (including timed, fasting, and peak/trough drug levels).
• Follow safety, infection‑control, and universal precautions while collecting and processing specimens.
• Instruct patients on pre‑, intra‑, and post‑test procedures and provide scheduling information as needed.
• Evaluate specimen suitability for analysis and request recollection when necessary.
• Receive and accession laboratory and technical equipment testing requests, verifying accuracy and completeness.
• Control laboratory and technical equipment supply inventory.
• Recognize emergency situations and take appropriate action.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Schedule

Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday – 07:30 – 16:00

Pay

Competitive salary with regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be applied based on higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (above the minimum rate of the grade).

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off (13–26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 federal holidays).
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster‑care placement.
• Child‑care subsidy for full‑time employees with family income below $144,000: up to 25 % of eligible costs, maximum $416.66 per month.
• Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5 % VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care insurance (portable into retirement).
• No telework or virtual work options; position is on‑site.
• No permanent change of station (PCS) or relocation assistance authorized.

Physical Requirements

A pre‑employment examination or evaluation will be required. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation.

Work environment

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates a Whole Health System of care, empowering individuals to take charge of their health and well‑being. Employees operate within a model that includes personalized