Defense Health Agency hiring Nurse (Specialist/Obstetric/Neonatal) GS-0610-12 in Fort Belvoir, VA | LinkedIn (2024)

About these PositionsThese positions are on a combined Mother-Baby/Labor and Delivery Unit at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital which has recently been renamed to Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center.

Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center is a Department of Defense medical facility located on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, outside of Washington D.C. In conjunction with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Belvoir provides the Military Health System medical capabilities of the National Capital Region Medical Directorate (NCR MD), a joint unit providing comprehensive care to members of the United States Armed Forces located in the capital area, and their families. The facility is located on a U.S. Army installation but operates as one of the first joint service medical facilities in the U.S. military, staffed with uniformed medical personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The hospital is one of the largest medical facilities in Northern Virginia and provides all levels of inpatient and outpatient medical care. The facility maintains a 24-hour emergency department but, like most U.S. military hospitals, transfers patients in need of a trauma center to equipped civilian medical facilities. As part of federal emergency planning in the National Capitol Region, the hospital is also tasked with maintaining unique capabilities to support continuity of government operations in the event of crisis.

The $1.03 billion, 1.3 million-square-foot facility opened in August 2011, replacing Fort Belvoir's TRICARE Health Clinic (DTHC) at the Pentagon and satellite health centers in Fairfax and Dumfries, Virginia.

Fort Belvoir is a United States Army base located on 8,656 acres along the Potomac River in Fairfax County, VA. It encompasses a population of 47,000 and is well-positioned a mere 12 miles south of Washington, DC..

Fort Belvoir is home to the United States INSCOM and ARCYBER and elements of ten other Army major commands; nineteen different agencies and direct reporting units of the Department of Army; eight elements of the U.S. Army Reserve and the Army National Guard; and twenty-six Department of Defense agencies. Also located here are the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power), the U.S. Army Prime Power School, a Marine Corps detachment, a U.S. Air Force activity, U.S. Army Audit Agency and an agency from the Department of the Treasury.

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation.Who May Apply US CitizensDuties

As a Nurse (Specialist/Obstetric/Neonatal), you will,

Provides specialized services to patients with complex systems and/or disease processes. Independently initiates a higher-level response to emergencies, in the absence of the direction of a licensed independent provider (LIP), deciding the approach, methodology, interpretation and evaluation, under stress and in times of urgency. As required, performs advanced cardiac life support code team management, until the LIP arrives. Observes, monitors, and assesses patient’s condition, recognizing, identifying, and interpreting serious situations. Organizes and monitors interventions and solves problems, on own initiative, that align with professional standards of practice. Collaborates with LIP to make changes to patient care plans.

Incumbent maintains accountability for patient management in the area of multi-specialty (labor and delivery, ante-partum, post-partum, newborn, obstetrical/anesthesia recovery, routine/high risk obstetrics). Provides Level II, highly specialized obstetrical nursing care, with either combined or single medical/surgical conditions, to either routine or high-risk ante-partum, or intra-partum, potentially critically ill patients, e.g., pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, multiple gestation, post anesthesia etc., who require close observation for subtle changes in condition. Utilizes advanced newborn assessment skills to identify difficult patient care problems, to formulate complex plans to meet patient care needs, and to continually revise goals and objectives, according to changes in patient status. As required, provides peri-operative care; inclusive, but not limited to, that of circulating nurse for cesarean sections, bilateral tubal ligation, and dilation and curettage.

Operates and monitors highly complex technical and specialized equipment, i.e., cardiac monitors, EKG machines, infant resuscitation equipment, infusion pumps, radiant warmers, isolettes, and transport incubators. Observes and assesses patient’s condition and safety hazards, while ensuring immediate action to resolve/correct. Interprets and ensures compliance with established policies, procedures, and standards of care and practice. Collaborates with interdisciplinary team to develop strategies to improve patient care services.

Supervisory Status

None

Travel Required

Not Required

Key Requirements

• This is a Direct Hire Solicitation.
• Rotating shifts required (nights,weekends and holidays).

QualificationsIn 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/Obstetric/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 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 assisting pregnant women with labor and delivery, providing fetal monitoring, and assessing the neonatal patient after delivery.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.