Occupational Health Nurse

Duties

Occupational Health Nurse Services (50%)
Provides health care maintenance, diagnostic and therapeutic services, education and counseling while performing Occupational Health Nurse duties. Ensures that special programs are conducted as planned. Evaluates the efficacy of these programs and advises as to their continuation and improvement.
Performs emergency assessment, diagnosis and initial treatment of injury or illness. Notifies the Attending Physician in cases where initial treatment is beyond the competence or scope of the incumbent for advice and assistance, and based on the circumstances, to expedite the conveyance of the patient to a physician or suitable medical facility at the request of or on behalf of the patient.
Administers lifesaving procedures including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency first aid procedures to stabilize a patient. The incumbent must be fully knowledgeable in the areas of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other lifesaving procedures. Administers prescribed dosages of emergency drugs normally prescribed for similar emergencies as required.
Carries out standard nursing duties such as performing routine diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, monitoring stress levels and evaluating the treatment. Provides emotional support to the patient and family by providing information on the treatment. Performs electrocardiograms for patients to diagnose abnormalities of a heart condition. Refers patients to their personal physicians as necessary.
Dispenses or performs first aid or palliative treatment for conditions to enable the employee to complete the current work shift before consulting with their personal physician. Administers certain treatments such as allergens, vaccines, vitamins and similar treatments requested by the employee's private physician and in accordance with instruction of the OAP. Administers required immunizations as requested. Maintains current knowledge of immunization procedures, regulations and policies.
Provides standard healthcare maintenance, diagnostic/therapeutic services, education and counseling to patients. Provides periodic training in CPR/AED for Congressional Staff and employees of the AOC.
Evaluates and Instructs Patients (35%)
Interviews and evaluates all types of patients. Encourages and informs patients of ways to maintain or improve their health status through education and counseling and performs other routine general nurse duties.
Assists with clinical research protocols for complex research trials.
Serves as an Information Source (15%)
Receives special training with the oversight of the OAP to assist in organizing and providing health care maintenance, diagnostic and therapeutic services, education and counseling as an Occupational Health Nurse. Ensures that special training programs are conducted as planned.
Serves as a health informational resource to Members of Congress, Staff and visitors for specialized information related to a particular patient population, health issue or clinical protocol.
Maintains accurate, complete and confidential medical records on all patients diagnosed or treated and ensures proper security of these records.
Maintains a supply of emergency drugs in an Emergency Drug Box and ensures all drugs and supplies are current and maintains proper security of the Emergency Drug Box and Supplies.
Maintains a record of drugs and supplies issued and other inventory records required to ensure orderly resupply of pharmaceuticals.
Maintains an automated data base of patients treated and operates a personal computer for required and data input and retrieval. Conducts effective observations, prepares personal histories or uses other assessment measurement devices to gather information that portrays the client's physical health. Evaluates the results and provides sound diagnostic conclusions.
Assists employees in identifying and locating private physicians and dentists as required.
Follows applicable safety rules in the performance of duties. Attends safety classes to reinforce the awareness in safety.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

Specialized experience: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Candidates for the GS-12 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-11) grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as having experience practicing the full range of professional nursing care principles, practices and procedures. It includes experience in:

1.) Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating employee/patient care utilizing the nursing process to determine proper health care in a work environment.

2.) Developing and implementing techniques common to normal nursing practices such as palliative, triage and emergency care.

3.) Implementing occupational health protection plans, informational material, SOPs, policies, procedures and regulations.

Education

Must have a 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.

Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation at the time of application will result in lost consideration.