Nurse (Labor & Delivery) GS-0610-11

Defense Health Agency; Portsmouth (VA); On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The Defense Health Agency is seeking a specialized nurse at their facility in Cornholme, England. The role involves providing comprehensive care to obstetric patients and their neonates, monitoring vital signs, and administering medications while ensuring safety and compliance with regulations.

Applicants must hold a nursing degree and be licensed. Additionally, certifications in basic life support and neonatal resuscitation are necessary. This position may involve shift work and responding to emergencies.

Qualifications

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Current and unrestricted nursing license required.
• Experience in labor and delivery scenarios.
• Ability to maintain BLS and NRP certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive specialized nursing care.
• Monitor and evaluate the status of patients.
• Administer medications and provide post-anesthesia care.
• Assist in delivery room procedures.

Skills

Comprehensive nursing care

Advanced assessment skills

Patient education

Medication administration

Education

Bachelor's degree in nursing

Professional nursing educational program

Job description

Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA

Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, is the oldest continuously running hospital in the Navy. Our new facility is constantly evolving to reflect our growing population with new technology and training opportunities. Over 4,300 Sailors and civilians work in locations from Yorktown to Chesapeake to deliver health care to the 420,000 Active‑Duty members, family members and retirees living in Hampton Roads.

Responsibilities

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

• Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates complicated and routine obstetric and neonatal patients who require close observation; 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.

• 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; 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.

• 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; initiates remedial measures as necessary; monitors patients with epidurals in place and reports to anesthesia provider; is responsible for the security of narcotics, high‑risk medications, and other controlled substances.

• Assists physicians and nurse midwives in examination and treatment in the delivery room; delivers babies in emergency situations; confers with providers concerning instruments, sutures, special equipment and procedures unique to vaginal /instrument/cesarean delivery; is 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; provides primary operating‑room circulating duties for cesarean sections and tubal ligations, and assists with operating‑room circulating duties for emergency obstetric surgeries.

• Provides post‑anesthesia care; assesses and cares for obstetric patients that receive epidural, spinal, or general anesthesia; has knowledge of common obstetric anesthetic agents and recognizes complications such as malignant hyperthermia, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, and cardiac arrhythmias.

• 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, and health promotion; initiates discharge planning and teaching upon admission of each patient; actively participates in multidisciplinary discharge planning; provides emotional support and comprehensive 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 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 consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations or 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; additional immunizations may be required.
• Must obtain and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Red Cross; advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS.
• Must obtain and maintain certification in Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).
• Applicants must be able to fulfill non‑privileged professional credential requirements.
• Work may include shift work (evenings, weekends, holidays) and rotating shifts; may require irregular work hours or on‑call duties.
• Moderate to heavy lifting up to 50 pounds is required.
• Position is designated as Inclement Weather Essential; must report for work on time during severe weather.
• Position is designated as Mission Essential; must report during contingency operations, natural disasters, or emergency situations.
• Uniform/ protective clothing required.
• One year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Position is being filled at the GS‑05/07/09/11 target GS‑11 level; duties reflect full performance GS‑11 level; may be performed in a developmental capacity under close supervision.

Qualifications

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Degree:

  A graduate or higher level degree, bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. The education must have been accredited by recognized accrediting bodies such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Transcripts must be attached.

• Licensure:

  A current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a U.S. state, D.C., Puerto Rico, or U.S. territory and having passed the National Council Licensure Examination.

• Requirements for GS‑05:
  • Education/Experience: a diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and one full year of professional nursing experience or a bachelor’s degree in nursing with no experience.
• Requirements for GS‑07:
  • Education/Experience: a bachelor’s degree in nursing and at least one full year of professional nursing experience including providing care to labor and delivery patients.
  • OR: a diploma or associate degree with two full years of professional nursing experience providing care to labor and delivery patients.
  • OR: at least one full year of graduate education in a professional nursing program.
  • OR: superior academic achievement in nursing at the baccalaureate level.
• Requirements for GS‑09:
  • Education/Experience: a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree in nursing with at least one full year of professional nursing experience equivalent to GS‑7 level, including providing care to labor and delivery patients, patient education, and assessments.
  • OR: a master’s degree in professional nursing.
• Requirements for GS‑11:
  • Education/Experience: a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree in nursing with at least one full year of professional nursing experience equivalent to GS‑9 level, including providing care to labor and delivery or postpartum patients, administering medications, and providing lactation education.
  • OR: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing program or related medical science field.