Practical Nurse (ICU) GS-0620-06

Overview

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), formerly the National Naval Medical Center and colloquially known as Bethesda Naval Hospital, Walter Reed, or Navy Med, is a United States military medical center located in Bethesda, Maryland. It is one of the largest and most prominent military medical centers in the nation and has provided medical care for several U.S. presidents since its opening in 1940. In 2011, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center combined with the National Naval Medical Center to form the tri‑service Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Working for the Department of Defense comes with competitive compensation packages, paid time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and a retirement package with a Thrift Savings Plan including matching employer contributions.

Recruitment and Incentives

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

Who May Apply

U.S. citizens.

Responsibilities

• Obtain patient's vital signs such as respiration, temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate.
• Review data from special equipment to track patients’ heart rates, blood pressures, breathing, and other vitals.
• Provide basic bedside care (i.e., dressing wounds, changing bandages, inserting catheters, and giving injections).
• Enter data related to the record of patients in computer systems, i.e., electronic medical records.
• Interview patients and examine their medical history.
• Administer intravenous fluids and medications.
• Follow proper nursing standards and protocols for treatment.
• Assist with ordering diagnostic tests, as needed.
• Act as the patient advocate, in collaboration with fellow members of the medical care team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

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

Basic Requirement for Practical Nurse: 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.

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, which includes duties such as obtaining patient vital signs, assessing the needs of patients and developing a plan of care based on assessment, administering intravenous fluids and medications, entering appropriate patient‑related data into electronic medical records, and adhering to hospital policies and procedures.

Education

Some federal jobs allow substitution of education for experience. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone—no substitution of education for experience is permitted.