• Provide specialized nursing care to moderately ill and recovering neonates, ensuring continuous cardio-pulmonary monitoring and swift response to subtle condition changes.
• Perform a variety of RN duties; (i.e., administer fluids and medications via direct intravenous and other routes, and continuously monitor and document infant responses to optimize care and treatment outcomes)
• Adjust nursing care plans in response to patient condition changes, facilitate patient transfers, and ensure seamless transitions to advanced care.
• Respond to life-threatening changes in a neonate’s condition and deliver immediate emergency interventions aligned with Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) protocols.
• Conduct assessments identifying complex patient care challenges.
• Develop targeted care plans and adjust objectives based on evolving infant status.
• Assess fetal well-being by means of the performance of advanced neonatal care equipment, including cardiac monitors, EKG machines, resuscitation tools, infusion pumps, radiant warmers, isolettes, and transport incubators.
• Stabilize and monitor critically ill neonates for safe transport to higher-level care facilities.
• Prepare patients for transfer or discharge while serving as the primary liaison and advocate for families.
• Educate parents/caregivers on infant CPR and safety protocols, proper newborn care, breastfeeding/lactation, infection control, antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care, monitoring the mother and baby's well-being while still in the hospital.
• Respond to life-saving situations, using nursing standards and protocols for treatment, as well as order diagnostic tests and procedures as needed.
• Adhere to hospital policies, procedures and protocol while conducting patient care and documenting information in electronic medical records.
• Serve as Charge Nurse; prioritizing patient care and managing shift assignments while providing subject matter expertise, training, mentorship and guidance as needed.

Conditions of employment

• A Personnel Security Investigation is Required. Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position has specific initial background investigation and periodic re-verification requirements since its duties require interaction with children and youth under the age of eighteen (18) years of age on a recurring basis.
• 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.
• Lifting up to 45 pounds may be required.
• All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• This position is subject to a pre-employment screening, and random drug testing, to include testing based on reasonable suspicion and testing due to direct involvement with an on-duty accident.
• Immunization screening is required. Hepatitis B immunization is required for all positions with direct patient contact. Applicants may be required to show proof of other immunizations depending on the type of position.
• This position has mandatory seasonal Influenza vaccination requirements and is subject to annual seasonal Influenza vaccinations unless otherwise exempted for medical or religious reasons (documentation of exemption must be provided upon hire).
• This position requires the incumbent to have Tuberculosis testing.
• This position requires shift work to provide coverage on evenings, weekends, holidays, or special situations. Employee shifts are rotated on a regularly scheduled basis.
• This position may require the incumbent to work on call during irregular work hours which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and/or varying work schedules.
• 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.
• Position is 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.
• This position requires that you obtain and maintain a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from, or in accordance with, the American Heart Association and American Red Cross. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS.
• This position requires that you obtain and maintain an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• This position requires that you obtain and maintain a Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification.
• Must currently possess and maintain (without lapse) all required state licenses, BLS, BCLS,ACLS, NRP, Fetal Heart monitoring and others as required.
• This position requires the incumbent to fulfill credentialing requirements and obtain and maintain appropriate/relevant clinical privileges.
• This position requires the employee to wear a uniform, scrubs, or other appropriate medical professional attire while on duty.

Qualifications

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 for Nurse (Specialist/Obstetrics/Neonatal):

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: Graduates of foreign nursing schools must have completed the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools Certification Program. The certification program consists of a credentials evaluation, the CGFNS Qualifying Exam, and evidence of passing one of the approved English Language Proficiency examinations. A copy of the CGFNS Certificate is required.

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. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.

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

Education/Experience: A diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree in Nursing from a professional nursing program and possession of at least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-9 grade level or above) which includes working within a neonatal care team; performing neonate monitoring, neonatal care, resuscitative measures according to protocols, and administering fluids and medications; and/or educating parents/caregivers on neonate safety protocols, care, breastfeeding/lactation, and infection control.

OR

Education: A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing educational program or related medical science field.

OR

Exemption: You are exempt from the qualification 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. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.

Defense Health Agency Nurse Experience Exemption: You are exempt from the one year specialized experience requirement if you were previously employed as a Nurse or Practical Nurse in the Department of War for at least one year, or are currently employed as a Nurse or Practical Nurse in the Department of War, AND after commencing work as a nurse or practical nurse in the Department of War obtained a bachelor's degree or graduate degree from an accredited professional nursing educational program. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.)

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. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

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