Licensed Vocational Nurse (Community Living Center 215-2) Job

Licensed Vocational Nurse Careers with the Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care System

Nursing is more than a career; it is a profound calling to provide compassionate, high-quality care to those who need it most. Within the federal sector, this calling takes on an even deeper meaning. Choosing to work as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) means dedicating your professional talent to serving America's military heroes. These individuals have given selflessly to protect our nation, and they deserve nothing less than exemplary medical care in return.

The Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care System (GLAHCS) is currently seeking a talented and compassionate Licensed Vocational Nurse to join its nursing service division at the Community Living Center 215-2. If you are seeking a stable career path that offers competitive compensation, excellent federal benefits, and the deep professional satisfaction of caring for Veterans, this opportunity represents the perfect next step in your nursing journey.

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About the Agency: Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care System

The Mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs

Our nation’s mission to care for our Veterans is rooted in a historic promise made by President Abraham Lincoln: "To care for him who shall have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors." The Department of Veterans Affairs acts as the steward of this sacred promise. By operating the largest and most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the United States, the VA sets a global benchmark for patient-centered medical care, clinical training, and revolutionary medical research.

Why Join the Greater Los Angeles Team?

GLAHCS stands as one of the premier clinical networks within the Veterans Health Administration. Serving a vast, diverse population of Veterans across Southern California, this facility delivers top-tier primary, secondary, and tertiary health services. Joining the GLAHCS team connects you with an elite community of healthcare professionals who value innovation, continuous professional education, and a culture of mutual respect.

Working in the Community Living Center (CLC) allows you to deliver rehabilitative, geriatric, and restorative nursing care. In this setting, the focus is on maximizing the physical independence, emotional well-being, and dignity of long-term residents. It is an environment where you can develop deep, rewarding clinical relationships with your patients and make a daily difference in their quality of life.

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Core Duties & Responsibilities of a VA LVN

As an LVN in the Community Living Center, you will utilize your technical, manual, and interpersonal nursing skills under the administrative and clinical direction of a Registered Nurse (RN) or licensed physician. Your duties will span across direct clinical treatment, patient education, medication management, and family coordination.

Key responsibilities include:

• Comprehensive Patient Care: Administering a full spectrum of practical nursing care to patients presenting with diverse and complex physical, cognitive, and behavioral challenges.
• Medication Administration: Safely preparing, administering, and documenting actions for widely prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous (IV) medications in strict accordance with local facility policies.
• Clinical Observation & Documentation: Monitoring and logging patient responses to treatments, therapies, and medications. You will promptly identify and report any deviations from clinical baselines directly to the supervising RN or physician.
• Emergent Intervention: Rapidly recognizing urgent or life-threatening clinical developments, initiating immediate emergency clinical protocols, and actively assisting with cardiac or pulmonary resuscitation procedures.
• Patient & Family Education: Educating patients and their families regarding management of chronic disease processes, prescribed medication regimens, and post-discharge self-care instructions.
• Support for Specialized Procedures: Preparing patients and equipment for highly specialized diagnostic tests, assisting during clinical examinations, and monitoring patient stability before, during, and after treatments.
• Mentorship & Teamwork: Working collaboratively to orient and guide less experienced LVNs, Nursing Assistants, and Health Technicians in utilizing modern standards of patient-centered nursing care.

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Structural Grading & Requirements

The VA employs a structured grading system to determine appropriate compensation, responsibilities, and qualifications for nursing candidates. This vacancy spans grades GS-03 through GS-06, allowing clinical professionals at different stages of their careers to qualify.

GS-Level Qualification Comparison

Grade Level	Education & Experience Requirements	Key Competencies & Scope of Work
GS-03	Graduate of an accredited practical/vocational nursing program; no prior experience required.	Entry-level clinical tasks; performs standard nursing routines under direct clinical supervision.
GS-04	At least 6 months of active LVN/LPN experience OR graduation from an approved school plus 1 year of general patient-care experience in a supervised medical facility.	Performs direct patient care; possesses a solid understanding of basic human anatomy, sterile techniques, and physical therapy principles.
GS-05	Minimum of 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-04 level.	Safely administers multi-route medications; leads clinical patient/family education; helps orient junior assistants and staff.
GS-06	Minimum of 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 level; fully proficient across diverse patient populations.	Initiates and carries out highly complex clinical duties independently; work is subject only to general review by RNs or physicians.

General Position and Physical Requirements

To maintain eligibility, applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

• Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of the United States.
• Language Proficiency: Candidates must possess written and verbal fluency in English.
• Selective Service: Male candidates born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the federal Selective Service.
• Physical Demands: Candidates must be capable of lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 35 pounds. The position requires standing, walking, bending, and kneeling intermittently for 4 to 6 hours during shifts, as well as reaching above the shoulder.
• Health Requirements: Mandatory annual seasonal influenza vaccinations are a condition of employment for all VA health personnel. Selected candidates must also undergo pre-employment urinalysis screening for illegal substance use.

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Salary & Compensation Overview

Competitive Federal Pay Scale

The salary range for this Licensed Vocational Nurse position is set between $58,741 and $93,292 per year. Your starting salary is determined by a formal board review of your educational background, clinical credentials, and active years of licensed experience.

Scheduled Work Hours

This is a full-time, permanent position. The selected nurse will work rotating 12-hour day shifts, specifically from 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Due to the nature of continuous care in our Community Living Centers, the clinical schedule may incorporate weekends, evening rotations, and select federal holidays.

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Premium Benefits & Perks

Working with the Department of Veterans Affairs provides nurses with a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package designed to support health, wealth, and long-term security.

• Elite Health Insurance: Choose from various federal health, dental, and vision insurance programs featuring extensive coverage options and heavy government subsidies.
• Retirement Pension (FERS): Enjoy lifetime retirement security through the Federal Employees Retirement System, which combines a defined-benefit pension with Social Security benefits.
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Secure your future with the federal equivalent of a 401(k), offering immediate tax advantages and up to a 5% matching contribution from the agency.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Earn paid annual (vacation) leave at competitive rates. The VA may grant newly appointed federal employees additional service credit for prior, relevant non-federal work experience to increase leave-accrual rates from day one.
• Sick Leave & Holidays: Accumulate paid sick leave with no cap on carry-over balances, in addition to 11 paid federal holidays off each year.
• Professional Development: Take advantage of robust education incentive programs, internal leadership seminars, and career-advancement opportunities across the nationwide VA clinical network.

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Crucial Application Tips

To stand out in the federal application process, follow these guidelines:

1. Use the Required Resume Templates: The VA utilizes a highly specific two-step resume submission. First, you must download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This is a simple one-page form that you must upload to the restricted two-page 'Resume' field without any edits. Second, upload your comprehensive, unlimited-page professional resume/CV under the 'Other' documents tab to ensure your full experience is visible.
2. Be Highly Specific with Experience: Federal recruiters are prohibited from making assumptions about your career background. When writing your clinical CV, clearly list the specific dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and detailed duties for every position you have held.
3. Provide Complete Transcripts: If you are qualifying based on your vocational nursing education, you must provide clear, legible transcripts. Candidates with foreign degrees must also submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
4. Answer the Occupational Questionnaire Thoroughly: Make sure to review the Occupational Questionnaire in advance to understand the precise capabilities, tasks, and standards of evaluation for this clinical vacancy.

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Q2: Are there relocations incentives for this role?

No. Relocation or recruitment incentives are not authorized for this specific vocational nursing vacancy.

Q3: Is this position telework-eligible?

No. Due to the requirement for direct patient-care services in the Community Living Center, this position requires onsite presence and is not eligible for telework.

Q4: What is the full performance level of this job opportunity?

This position has a full performance level of GS-06. If selected at a lower grade (such as GS-03 or GS-04), you may be progressively advanced up to the GS-06 level upon gaining the necessary experience and demonstrating required proficiencies.

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Becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse at the Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care System is more than a stable healthcare job; it is an opportunity to touch the lives of individuals who have sacrificed for our nation. With competitive salaries, federal retirement pension matching, and extensive healthcare benefits, this career path delivers unparalleled stability and rewards. Take the next step in your clinical journey and dedicate your talents to caring for America's Veterans. Apply today!