Practical Nurse

About the Position: This position is a Practical Nurse located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center - Bethesda, MD.

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation

This is an open continuous announcement. We accept applications on an ongoing basis. An initial cutoff date will be used to begin applicant consideration. Eligible applications received after the cut-off date will be referred at regular intervals.

Recruitment or relocation incentives MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

Provides practical nursing care to patients with a variety of medical conditions. | Performing tasks such as recording vital signs, ordering labs, tracking patient’s laboratory, radiology orders and referral results to completion, and assisting in making future appointments. | Initiates and maintains medical histories on patients, records observations, and identifies symptoms for use by the clinician. | Medication Administration and Observation. Administers prescribed medications with increased independence, ensuring proper patient dosages, routes, and times are followed. | Educates patients and families about prescribed treatments, reinforcing adherence to the medical plan. Documents accurate administered medications and patient responses promptly in compliance with facility policies. | Support for Medical Procedures and Emergency Response. | Utilizes electronic health record and information technology as effective communication and management tools to facilitate the patient experience and coordination. | Collaborates with the healthcare team to develop and adjust care plans based on patient progress and feedback. | Participates in team briefings and debriefings to foster a collaborative approach to patient care. | Assists in performing and managing medical procedures, physical examinations, and treatments. | Ensures administrative requirements related to patient’s visit are completed timely and correctly.

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement:

Licensure: A current license to practice as a practical or vocational nurse in a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; OR must have applied for a license to practice. Applications of candidates possessing a license must be accompanied by a certified or photostatic copy of the license, a notarized statement attesting to the fact, or a citation of the license number and State issuing it. Non-licensed candidates who have completed their training may be appointed subject to obtaining the required license during the probationary period. Those not licensed must furnish the date on which they applied for a license and the jurisdiction involved. No person appointed pending licensure may be retained beyond the probationary period if licensure has not been attained.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirement listed below:

Experience: One year of nursing experience in a hospital, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures, performing such duties as hospital, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures, performing such duties as: measuring vital signs to assess, monitor, or detect changes in patients; screening or updating patient medical records within an automated healthcare system; and assisting with routine procedures for assigned patients. This definition of experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).

This announcement may be used to fill Practical Nurse positions in the following specialty areas: Office Automation (OA), Administrative, Psychiatric, Advanced Practice, Obstetric/Gynecologic, General, Primary Care, Pediatric, Sports Medicine, Occupational/Community Health, Operating Room, Surgery, Lead Practical Nurse, Orthopedic/Podiatry, Supervisory Practical Nurse, Dermatology, Quality Assurance Evaluation, Gastroenterology, Pulmonary or Instructor.

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. | This position may be required to be screened for and obtain necessary immunizations/vaccinations (hepatitis, influenza, etc.), unless exempted by a licensed physician. | This position may be required to work uncommon tours of duty hours such as, on-call, working either fixed or rotating shifts, evenings, weekends and/or holidays. | This position may be designated “Mission Essential”. | This position may be subject to TDY or business travel requirements to various locations. This may require travel via privately owned vehicles, commercial transport platforms, and/or military aircraft, ships, and vehicles. | This position may require a pre-employment physical annually and thereafter. | If selected for supervisory position, one year supervisor probationary period may be required. | Position may require employee to wear a uniform and/or protective clothing. | Position may be designated as Inclement Weather Essential. The incumbent must make every attempt to report for work on time and/or remain on duty during severe weather conditions. | Position may be designated as Key or Emergency Essential.