Practical Nurse (Surgical)

About the Position: This position is located in the Department of Surgery at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington.

A recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized.
Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service.

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation

Provide nursing care to patients with various conditions and of all ages in specialty surgical, pre-and post-operative, and outpatient settings. | Prepare and administer prescribed medications by oral, topical, intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular routes. | Assist physicians during diagnostic, therapeutic and/or minor to complex surgical procedures of patients in various conditions, including those in a critically ill status and/or under anesthetic for surgical procedures. | Prepare necessary supplies and equipment; drapes, positions, monitors patient condition and holds the patient in position, and hands instruments and supplies to the physician during the procedure. | Perform a variety of auxiliary nursing duties connected with patient care such as checking operational status of emergency equipment, ensuring sterile condition of surgical, examination and treatment instruments, tools.

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the 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 Practical Nurse (Surgical):

Licensure: Candidates must be currently licensed to practice as practical or vocational nurses in a State or 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, outpatient clinic, 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 duties such as assisting professional health care providers with surgical pre and post operative procedures. This definition of experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade level in the federal service (GS-05).

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.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. | A Personnel Security Investigation is required. | Must be able to obtain and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS. | This position has a TDY or business travel requirement of 5% of the time to various locations. This may require travel on military aircraft, ships, and vehicles. | 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. | Selectees will be required to sign a statement (Condition of Employment) consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations or must provide a recognized exemption. | Applicants must be able to fulfill credentialing requirements and obtain and maintain appropriate/relevant clinical privileges. | This position is a Testing Designated Position subject to pre-employment screening and random drug testing. Selectees will be required to consent to participation in random drug urinalysis testing. | A pre-placement medical examination is required. | Moderate to heavy lifting up to 50 pounds is required. | 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 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 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.