Practical Nurse (Mental Health)

This Licensed Practical Nurse position is located in the Nursing Service (Mental Health) at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center, in Bedford, Massachusetts. This is a full time position at 40-hours per week.

VA Careers - Licensed Practical Nurse: https://youtube.com/embed/Ae85IP1Oiz4 Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This Practical Nurse position is located in the Nursing Service (Mental Health) at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center, in Bedford, Massachusetts. This announcement is intended to fill multiple vacancies throughout the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bedford, MA. Available shifts could be days, evenings, nights, or include weekends/holidays to cover shortages or high patient volume. Shift changes will be considered based on patient and facility needs. Under the direct supervision of the RN, MD, DO, NP or PA the Practical Nurse is held accountable for delivering direct patient care to adult through geriatric aged patients. He/she recognizes the age-related needs and demonstrates knowledge and care appropriate to that age group. He/she considers the cognitive, physical, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the patients, demonstrates competence, and correctly provides appropriate care for that age group or groups. Major Duties in addition to basic Practical Nurse duties include, but are not limited to: Collects data and collaborates in the assessment of the health status of a patient. Implements aspects of the plan of care as delegated. Participates in the evaluation of patient responses to interventions. Participates in health teaching and counseling to promote, attain, and maintain the optimum health level of patients, as delegated. Recognizes, reports and records promptly all changes in physical condition and behavior of patients. Completes routine documentation of results of care and treatment according to policy, guidelines, instructions, (e.g. flow sheets) utilizing the electronic record and information network. Differentiates between emergent and non-emergent conditions. Reports promptly and accurately records critical/emergency situations. Demonstrates knowledge and ability to provide a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and /or behavioral problems. Demonstrates a broad working knowledge of practical nursing procedures under the general supervision of an RN or MD/DO. Technically efficient 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 the patients' conditions. Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care, including medication, equipment assisted care and patient/family education. Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex, diagnostic tests and /or specialized practices or procedures. Inpatient Units - Part of being an employee with the Bedford VA includes taking care of all of the veterans across the hospital. All inpatient units include Mental Health, Acute Psychiatric, Long Term Psychiatric, Residential, Long Term Care, Short Term Care, Hospice, Rehabilitation, and Dementia. All staff are required and may have to float to support the needs of the inpatient units. Work Schedule: Multiple tours available; to be discussed at interview and determined on selection. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Functional Statement #: F1966, F1967, F1968, F1969 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is covered by a special rate. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. This is an open continuous announcement until February 11, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.