Overview:

Tripler Army Medical Center is seeking a Nurse (Clinical/OB/GYN) to join our growing team!

At Tripler, you will practice alongside civilian and military health care experts and experience unique professional opportunities. Our staff serves by caring for our military but are not subject to military requirements. We operate within safe staffing standards - giving you time to provide exceptional care.

Also known as the “big pink building on the hill”, Tripler is a 450 bed, Level II Trauma facility and participates in unique partnerships with civilian facilities to provide care to non-beneficiary trauma victims.

Want to hear what it’s like to work at Tripler? Check it out: https://youtu.be/b6E1XBHlEyc

In addition to salary, employees will receive an 8.9% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA); subject to change.

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/

Responsibilities:

The primary purpose of this position is to provide comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic nursing care to patients, both adolescents and adults, across a continuum. The incumbent provides services to routine and high-risk obstetric patients during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum period maximizing maternal and fetal health for patients seen within the Military Treatment Facility (MTF). Coordinates with the multi-disciplinary team (i.e., providers, pharmacists) in the management of obstetric complications/emergencies and implements interventions to enhance outcomes for post-surgical and gynecologic patients. Provides routine newborn care and offers services based on individualized needs assessments (i.e., lactation support, etc.). Although assigned to a primary obstetric and gynecological unit, incumbent may be assigned to or perform duties at another unit within the MTF.

MAJOR DUTIES:

1. Provides comprehensive professional nursing care to OB/GYN patients and their newborns with medical conditions ranging from routine care to those having complex complications requiring sophisticated, highly technical care and treatment. Conducts an advanced level of specialized obstetrical and gynecological nursing care to patients based on a provider’s medical care plan and the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the patient and family. Incumbent provides specialized obstetric and gynecologic nursing care to adolescents and adult women throughout the age spectrum and their newborns. Provides care for women requiring low to high-risk ante-partum, intra-partum, postpartum, and gynecological care as well as competence in newborn and couplet care. Administers oxygen, IV fluids, amnioinfusion, blood products, and prescribed medications. Initiates intravenous and indwelling catheters, and patient-controlled analgesia pumps. Sets up and operates specialized monitoring equipment including blood pressure monitoring, pulse oximetry, fetal heart rate monitors (internal and external), neonatal resuscitation equipment, cardiac monitoring, and infant warmers. Recognizes life-threatening conditions that require immediate attention. Provides perioperative care to include serving as the circulating RN for cesarean sections and additional obstetric surgical procedures as needed (i.e., dilatation and curettage, cervical cerclage, cesarean-hysterectomy). Serves as subject matter expert and consultant for nursing staff and healthcare teammates in other areas of the hospital. Remains alert for signs and symptoms of patient distress and provides emergency care including initiation of life sustaining measures such as delivery, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), hypertension therapy, choking first aid, bleeding control, treatment of injuries, etc., in the absence of the provider, and assists with advanced cardiac life support measures. Assists anesthesia providers with placement of epidural catheters and induction of general anesthesia. Maintains lines and dressings in accordance with infection control policies and procedures, and discontinues invasive lines as guided by policy.

Serves as Charge Nurse on a rotational basis. Makes decisions regarding priorities for patient care for shift assignments. Assigns duties and delegates patient care to other registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, operating room technicians, and medical assistants, with consideration the difficulty and requirements of the assignment and the qualifications and capabilities of the individual. Monitors and oversees staff performance to assure work is accomplished timely. Ensures staff makes legible, accurate, and complete nursing entries in the electronic health record. Ensures appropriate patient education occurs during the shift and that the correct responses to patient emergencies are made. Verifies and annotates all physicians'/providers' orders written during the shift. Reviews and revises nursing care plans as needed. Advises attending physicians of significant changes in a patient’s condition in a timely manner. Coordinates and assures timely arrival of patients to scheduled appointments. Coordinates with other services/departments as required for diagnostic tests and procedures. Professional knowledge of the breastfeeding process, antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum health care. Knowledge, abilities, and skills of a wide range of nursing concepts, procedures, and practices to apply a highly specialized degree of skill and ability in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating lactation education needs. Knowledgeable about the standards of nursing and practices in the delivery of patient care. Knowledgeable and skilled in the physiology and clinical management of breastfeeding.

Coordinates case management needs with the case and outcomes management team. Develops nursing care plans and procedures, setting standards of care, prescribing special care and identifying specific nursing problems for all patients. Interprets provider and other professional orders and implements standard of care procedures, when appropriate, to comply with orders and to ensure comprehensive nursing care for all patients. Prepares written and gives oral instructions to personnel of all shifts regarding status and condition of patients, special procedures, and observations required. Continuously evaluates all procedures occurring on the unit to ensure quality patient care, recommending changes or implementation of nursing service policies and procedures when applicable. Coordinates patient education activities; ensures a safe environment for patients and staff by employing prescribed monitoring and safety measures. Collaborates with multidisciplinary group to formulate plans of care that are individualized and in accordance to accepted standards. Provides sufficient information to patients, parents, on pre- and post- admission and/or operative education, disease process and complications, and medication administration.

2. Performs procedures, treatments, and medication administration. Assesses patient’s response to medication administration. Utilizes analytical thinking and critical decision making prior to the administration of medication and/or treatments based on knowledge of the affects to include side effects of the medical on the physiological processes and current condition of the patient. Competent in performing medical administration via oral, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intravenously, topically, etc. Maintains continual awareness of approved medication dosages and addresses uncommon dosages for ordered medication with ordering provider. Reviews medication orders after thorough medication list review and verification of any side effects, allergies, contraindications, and continued treatment needs with the patient in accordance with (IAW) DoD, Defense Health Agency (DHA), and local instructions. Provides for the safekeeping and accurate accounting of controlled drugs and narcotics (IAW) DHA Regulations, MTF, and American Nursing Association guidelines. IAW DHA-PI 6025.16, perinatal certifications in STABLE, NRP, Fetal Heart Monitoring, ECO/ALSO, and participation in unit emergency simulation and drills as directed are mandatory training requirements once hired. Sets up and operates a variety of specialized medical equipment such as, but not limited to, resuscitators, cardiac monitoring devices, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), EKG units, oxygen analyzers, ventilators, neonatal warmers and transporters, electronic fetal monitoring devices, phototherapy lights/blankets, and electrocautery devices. Serves as a resource person with whom other obstetrical nurses consult when particularly difficult problems in the care of obstetrical patients arise. Serves as a mentor, preceptor, and role model to experienced and fully trained obstetrical nurses as well as those not fully trained. Provides guidance and leadership to other professional nurses and provides instructions and training to paraprofessional personnel, including on-the-job training and orientation, as necessary.

3. Participates in continuing education programs to update and/or maintain skills and knowledge to meet annual requirements. Participates in department and unit-level simulation drills, staff meetings, in-services/briefings, and in continuing quality and process improvement measures. Uses current research findings and other evidence to expand professional knowledge, enhance role performance, and increase knowledge of professional obstetric/perinatal nursing. Completes all training requirements designated by facility, supervisor, DHA, or accrediting agencies; participates in continuing education programs to update and/or maintain skills and knowledge to meet licensing requirements.

4. Provides evidence-based instructions and education to patient/significant other and/or family members/caregivers. Performs adapted patient teaching with patients requiring special approaches or preferences and documents education provided. In coordination with the clinical provider, provides individualized, thorough instructions prior to surgery, delivery, diagnostic procedures and/or in-home care. Evaluates patient’s/caregiver’s understanding of current health and health literacy. Emphasizes the preventive, curative, and restorative aspects of instructions. Emphasizes and instructs patients, families, and/or caregivers on preventive and therapeutic interventions, health promotion and maintenance, care outcomes and goals, as well as care coordination. Ensures patient, families and/or caregivers acknowledge understanding of instructions and participate in the plan of care. Provides support to patients suffering from perinatal loss through the delivery of bereavement care. Coordinates services through various agencies to facilitate healing and grief support. Follows established protocols using professional nursing judgment to individualize instructions to meet each beneficiary’s needs. Delegates appropriate nursing interventions to nursing team members based on their demonstrated competency, state practice acts, available evidence-based guidelines, regulatory standards, and organizational policies ensuring assignments/duties are compatible with the individual’s skill level.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In 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:
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: Graduates of foreign nursing schools must have completed the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools Certification Program. The certification program consists of a credentials evaluation, the CGFNS Qualifying Exam, and evidence of passing one of the approved English Language Proficiency examinations. A copy of the CGFNS Certificate is required.

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. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

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 ambulatory patients, administering medications and providing education to patients or nursing staff.

OR

Education: A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing educational program or related medical science field.

Defense Health Agency Civilian Corps, Falls Church, VA

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