Clarification from the agency

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

• Serve as an Operating Room Nurse providing perioperative nursing care in a multi-service operating room providing a full range of surgical nursing services supporting complex and extensive surgical procedures.
• Collaborate with surgeons in one or more surgical services to assess, coordinate, plan, and implement the newest approaches and practices to deliver efficient, cost-effective surgical care for the beneficiary population.
• Open all sterile packs and supplies, according to aseptic technique.
• Coordinate with physicians and other staff, preoperatively, to develop a multi-disciplinary, intra-operative plan of care.
• Assist physician with examination, as well as treatment prior to, during, and following invasive procedures.
• Implement individualized nursing care plans to include safety precautions, correct positioning, infection control precautions, aseptic and/or sterile practices, dispensing and/or administering medications.
• Assist anesthesia providers with administering local, regional, and general anesthesia as well as assisting with the insertion of invasive monitoring lines.
• Provide direction and on-the-job training to military and civilian personnel, para- professionals, medical students, residents, and other healthcare professionals.

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position requires regular contact with children under the age 18 and a favorable determination of suitability to do so.
• This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.
• The duties of this position meet the criteria for compliance with Federal and Department of the Army Drug Free Workplace Programs. Detection of the presence of drugs is warranted.
• This position has been designated "Mission Essential". In the event of severe weather conditions or other such emergency type situations the incumbent is required to report to work or remain at work as scheduled to support mission operations.
• This position has a requirement to lift up to 50 lbs. in the regular performance of duties.
• Appointment to this position is subject to a one year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 315.
• This position requires incumbent to obtain and maintain Basic Life Support training certification from, or in accordance with, the American Heart Association and American Red Cross.
• Employees assigned to a medical treatment facility are required to be screened for applicable immunizations or pre-existing immunity based on occupational risk, regardless of job series.
• This position has a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination requirement and is subject to annual vaccination.
• Applicants must be able to fulfill credentialing requirements and obtain and maintain appropriate/relevant clinical privileges.
• Position requires shift work to provide coverage on evenings, weekends, holidays, or special situations. Shifts are rotated on a regularly scheduled basis: 8 hour (starting 0645), 10 hour (starting 0845), or 12 hour (starting 0645 and 1845) shift.
• The duties of this position may require the incumbent to be on call based on the needs of the organization.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and 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 for Nurse (Operating Room):

Degree: A graduate or higher level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.).

Licensure: A current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States; and you must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination.

Foreign Degree: A degree from a Foreign Nursing School. Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools.

Exemption: You are exempt from the basic requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0610 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Applicants claiming this exemption must meet the requirement below. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.

Degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated State accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Active, current registration as a professional nurse in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

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

Professional Nursing Experience: One or more full years of professional nursing experience which includes 1) performing comprehensive professional nursing care as a circulating perioperative nurse; 2) assisting providers with the administration of medications during surgical procedures; 3) operating highly specialized equipment and ensuring sterilization in accordance with infection control standards; 4) training staff on the improvement of patient care through evidence-based practice; and 5) monitoring performance of staff that coordinate patient care for surgical or operating room services. This definition of professional nursing experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).

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

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.