Vocational Nurse - Defense Health Agency Civilian Corps, Falls Church, VA

Vocational Nurse - GS-0620-6 - Camp Pendleton, CA

Oceanside is a coastal city in California. It's known for palm-dotted Harbor Beach and nearby Oceanside Harbor, with its marina and shops. To the south, the long Oceanside Pier juts into the Pacific Ocean. The California Surf Museum traces the sport's history with a surfboard collection and exhibits on famous surfers. Sculptures, paintings and drawings from the region are on display at the Oceanside Museum of Art.

Southern California is a highly populated area that continues to grow at a very rapid pace. Camp Pendleton area is so large that it borders several cities and three counties. Camp Pendleton is directly north of the city of Oceanside, CA with a population of 176,193 people. San Diego County, which borders Camp Pendleton to the south and southeast, has a population of 3,337,685. Riverside County, which borders Camp Pendleton to the east, has a population of 2,423,266. Orange County, which borders Camp Pendleton to the north, has a population of 3,190,400. While Southern California is vastly populated, it gives our service-members options and varied opportunities of living, either be city living, beachfront living, or country living and all these opportunities offer plenty of recreational options for the service-members and their families.

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 direct nursing care and assists patients, of all acuity levels (stable to terminally ill); with activities of daily living including, but not limited to, bathing, hygiene, feeding, ambulation, skin care and positioning. Observes significant changes in patient conditions relevant to surgical procedures and medical disease processes. Documents information about patient conditions, physical assessment results and nursing care plans in the medical record. Performs necessary treatments as directed by medical orders, the shift charge nurse or Team Leader. Understands the effects and expected outcomes of procedures including, but not limited to, hot and cold compresses, surgical wound care, sterile dressing changes, enemas, foley catheters, naso-gastric tubes, isolation, oxygen therapy, suction apparatus, sequential compression devices, tube feedings and special procedures unique to the specific service line clinical setting and patient population. Performs a wide range of diagnostic support including, but not limited to, blood collection for laboratory studies, urine, stool, sputum and other specimen collection, vital sign assessment, and CHCS computer utilization for retrieval of laboratory/radiological test results. Assists medical providers with a variety of diagnostic examinations including, but not limited to, lumbar punctures, liver biopsies, thoracentesis, paracentesis, vaginal examination and bone marrow biopsies. Positions patients, secures equipment set-up and assists doctors with instrument availability during procedures. Performs ongoing patient assessment and evaluation. Observes changes in patient’s conditions. Notifies medical providers and nursing leaders of abnormal findings while supporting patient needs. Identifies emergent situations and initiates appropriate action and documentation. Administers medications by oral, subcutaneous, intradermal, and intramuscular routes under the supervision of a registered nurse or credentialed provider. Follows established medication administration guidelines. Makes necessary judgements prior to administration of medications based on practical knowledge of the physiological effect, current condition of the patient and awareness of proper dosage. Monitors IV fluid infusions and discontinues IV fluids as directed. Vocational Nurses, who have state IV certification, may initiate and maintain IV therapy under the direct supervision of a certified registered professional nurse and in accordance with Nursing Services Standards Manual, hospital instructions, and unit standards.

Provides customer service to patients, families, visitors, and other medical, nursing, and ancillary personnel throughout the NHCP organization. Promotes good relations both inter and intra departmentally. Employs tact and diplomacy when interacting with patients and staff. Maintains confidentiality of patient related issues and intervenes to protect same. 

Follows established safety practices through proper use and storage of medical equipment. Reports malfunctioning equipment for repair and identifies and reports safety hazards. Ensures proper handling of hazardous materials. Complies with infection control guidelines and practices universal precautions. Assists in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient either by active participation in the cleaning of clinical spaces and medical equipment, or by guiding and directing other personnel in the environmental maintenance. Cleans and maintains medical equipment in good working order. Acts as an advocate for providing a safe, infection free environment. Assists in the orientation of new personnel by directing and/or demonstrating various procedures, techniques, and routines unique to the service line areas. 

Maintains paper and computerized medical records on assigned patients during tour of duty including data entry and retrieval. Documents all medications, treatments and nursing interventions in the patient’s medical record. Reports and records any reaction to medication and/or treatment observed. Knowledge of statistical methods, analytical techniques, decision theory, deductive reasoning, InterQual and Milman and Robertson criteria, UR systems, DRG’s, ICD-9 classification and medical records organization if assigned duties in Utilization Review. 

Participates in Continuous Improvement activities by identifying problems, assisting in the formulation of a plan of action, assessing results of intervention and evaluating results. Participates in care conferences and provides input for planning treatment programs to assure patient and family return to optimal health and wellness. Maintains knowledge of instructions, policies and standards affecting the delivery of care to the specific patient population assigned. Participates in updating nursing care plans consistent with recognized clinical standards and in accordance with appropriate nursing care and prescribed medical treatment. Collects, Collates, displays, and disseminates medical data for review, rend analysis and other statistical (manual or computer) computations to identify actual or potential problems/opportunities to improve care.
Conducts prospective, concurrent and occasional retrospective medical records review to certify DoD mandated criteria for medical necessity and appropriateness. 

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.
• A Personnel Security Investigation is required.
• 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.
• 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.
• Moderate to heavy lifting up to 45 pounds 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 or American Heart Association. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS.
• Applicants must be able to fulfill non-privileged professional credential requirements.
• 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 weekends and/or holidays.