Nurse (Labor & Delivery) - GS-0610-(5-11) - Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA (NMC San Diego)

Downtown San Diego is located on San Diego Bay. Balboa Park encompasses several mesas and canyons to the northeast, surrounded by older, dense urban communities including Hillcrest and North Park. To the east and southeast lie City Heights, the College Area, and Southeast San Diego. To the north lies Mission Valley and Interstate 8. The communities north of the valley and freeway, and south of Marine Corps Air Station Mirmar, include Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Tierrasanta, and Navajo. Stretching north from Miramar are the northern suburbs of Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos, and Ranch Bernado. The far northeast portion of the city encompasses Lake Hodges and the San Pasqual Valley, which holds an agricultural preserve. Carmel Valley and Del Mar Heights occupy the northwest corner of the city. To their south are Torrey Pines State Reserve and the business center of the Golden Triangle. Further south are the beach and coastal communities of La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach. Pont Loma occupies the peninsula across San Dego Bay from downtown. The communities of South San Diego (an Enclave), such as San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, are located next to the Mexico-United States border and are physically separated from the rest of the city by the cities of National City and Chula Vista. A narrow strip of land at the bottom of San Diego Bay connects these southern neighborhoods with the rest of the city.

San Diego has one of the top-ten best climates in the United States and has one of the two best summer climates in the country as scored by The Weather Channel. San Diego area has been variously categorized as having either a semi-arid climate or a Mediterranean climate. San Diego's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters, with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March. The city has a mild climate year-round, with an average of 201 days above 70 °F and low rainfall (9–13 inches annually).

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/

Provides comprehensive specialized nursing care to complicated and routine antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and perioperative obstetric patients and their neonates.

1. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates complicated and routine obstetric and neonatal patients who require close observation for subtle changes in condition. Consistently utilizes advanced assessment skills to identify difficult patient care problems, formulates plans to meet complex patient care needs, and continually revises goals and objectives according to changes in maternal/fetal status.
2. Monitors, evaluates, and documents the status of laboring patients through frequent checks of blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and fetal monitor patterns and reports findings to the provider as appropriate. Recognizes the stages of labor and notifies the appropriate provider when delivery is imminent. Assists with precipitous deliveries.
3. Administers medications, including high risk medications, as ordered within the guidelines of nursing practice. Monitors patient response to medications, documents and adjusts therapy according to provider order and relevant policies.  The incumbent has knowledge of adverse effects and precautions and initiates remedial measures as necessary.  Monitors patients with epidurals in place, documents findings, and reports to anesthesia provider.  Is responsible for the security of narcotics, high risk medications, and other controlled substances.
4. Assist physicians and nurse midwives in examination and treatment in the delivery room. Delivers babies in emergency situation. Confers with providers concerning instruments, sutures, special equipment and procedures unique to vaginal /instrument/cesarean delivery. Responsible for the setup of the delivery room and handles supplies and equipment including delivery lights, oxygen, suction machines, and maternal and fetal monitoring equipment.  In accordance with command and unit policy, provides primary operating room circulating duties for Cesarean Sections and tubal ligations, and initiates and/or assists with operating room circulating duties for emergency obstetric surgeries including hysterectomy, dilation and curettage, and exploratory laparotomy following Cesarean delivery.
5. Provides post anesthesia care. Assesses and cares for obstetric patients that receive epidural, spinal, or general anesthesia. Has knowledge of common obstetric anesthetic agents including actions and adverse reactions in order to recognize positive and negative effects and respond appropriately.  Must be able to recognize and respond to anesthetic complications and emergencies including, but not limited to, malignant hyperthermia, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, and cardiac arrhythmias.
6. Teaches patients and family members about disease processes, normal newborn and postpartum care, pre and post-operative care, pre and post diagnostic procedures; expected and possible adverse reactions to medications; health promotion.  Initiates discharge planning / teaching upon admission of each patient.  Actively participates in      multidisciplinary discharge planning.  Provides emotional support to patients, family members and significant others.  Provides comprehensive nursing care to patients / families experiencing perinatal and neonatal loss.  Coordinates follow-up care for patients and family members who have experienced perinatal or neonatal loss.

           Performs other duties as assigned.

Conditions of Employment:  

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance or access for the duration of employment. A background investigation and credit check are 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.
• Selectees will be required to sign a statement (Condition of Employment) consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations or must provide a recognized exemption.
• 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.
• 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.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Red Cross. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain certification in Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).
• Applicants must be able to fulfill non-privileged professional credential requirements.
• This position may include shift work (evenings, weekends, holidays).
• This position may require rotating shifts (i.e. work schedule that requires employees to continuously rotate from one shift to another at predetermined intervals).
• This position may require the incumbent to work during irregular work hours which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and/or varying work schedules.
• 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 may require the incumbent to work weekends and/or holidays.
• Moderate to heavy lifting up to 50 pounds is required.
• 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.
• Position is designated as Mission Essential. The incumbent will be required to report to work during times of contingency operations, natural disasters, extreme weather or other emergency situations.
• Position requires employee to wear a uniform and/or protective clothing.
• One year trial/probationary period may be required. 
• Position is being filled at the GS-05/07/09/11 target GS-11 level. Duties described reflect the full performance GS-11 level. Duties will be performed in a developmental capacity under close supervision. This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management.
• Management may select at any of the grade levels announced. This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management. Duties described reflect the full performance GS-11 level. If not selected at the full performance, duties will be performed in a developmental capacity under close supervision.

Must be a US Citizen

• Basic Requirement for Nurse (Labor & Delivery):

  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.

• 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:
  
  GS-05: Education/Experience: A diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and one full year of professional nursing experience which includes one year of professional nursing, or of at least GS-4 level practical nurse or nursing assistant experience under the supervision of a professional nurse which includes caring for the labor & delivery patient, taking vital signs and patient documentation. OR Education: A bachelor's degree in Nursing with no experience. 
  
  GS-07: Education/Experience: A bachelor's degree in Nursing and at least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-5 grade level) which includes providing care to labor & delivery patients, assisting with procedures and obtaining vital signs. OR Education/Experience: A diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and two full years of professional nursing experience which includes providing care to labor & delivery patients, assisting with procedures and obtaining vital signs.OR Education: At least one full year of graduate education in a professional nursing educational program. OR Superior Academic Achievement: In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in Nursing at the baccalaureate level. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies.

• A professional nursing program and one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level which includes providing care to labor & delivery patients, assisting with procedures and obtaining vital signs. OR one full year of graduate education from a professional nursing program.
  
  GS-09: 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-7 grade level or above) which includes providing care to labor & delivery patients, providing patient education and performing patient assessments OR Education: A master's degree in professional nursing.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. 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 OR two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a master's or equivalent degree from a professional nursing program.
• GS-11: 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 providing nursing care to labor & delivery or postpartum patients, administering medications and providing lactation education to patients or staff. OR Education: A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing educational program or related medical science field including but not limited to Nursing.
• Completion of all requirements for a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) from a professional nursing program OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education from a professional nursing program.