Practical Nurse Opportunity at Guthrie Army Health Clinic, Fort Drum, NY
Are you a licensed Practical Nurse seeking a rewarding career serving those who serve our country? The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is actively recruiting for a Practical Nurse position at the Guthrie Army Health Clinic in Fort Drum, New York. This is a direct hire opportunity, meaning the hiring process may be expedited, offering a chance to join a vital healthcare team dedicated to the well-being of military personnel and their families. With a competitive annual salary ranging from $50,434 to $65,565, this role presents a significant opportunity for career growth and professional fulfillment.
About the Defense Health Agency (DHA)
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is a crucial component of the U.S. Department of Defense, tasked with leading the Military Health System (MHS) as an integrated, reliable system for medical readiness and health. DHA supports the National Defense Strategy by managing a global network of military and civilian medical professionals, operating over 400 military hospitals and clinics worldwide. As a joint, integrated Combat Support Agency, DHA ensures a medically ready force and a ready medical force for Combatant Commands, in both peacetime and wartime. The agency is committed to delivering integrated, affordable, and high-quality health services to MHS beneficiaries, driving innovation and efficiency in clinical and business processes across the MHS.
Job Responsibilities: What You'll Do as a Practical Nurse
As a Practical Nurse at the Guthrie Army Health Clinic, your primary responsibility will be to provide essential patient care under the supervision of physicians and registered nurses. Your day-to-day duties will encompass a wide range of critical functions, ensuring the health and safety of patients. Key responsibilities include:
- Patient Assessment: Gathering comprehensive information from patients and their families to identify major complaints, symptoms, and the primary reasons for seeking healthcare.
- Vital Signs Monitoring: Accurately measuring and recording a full spectrum of vital signs, including blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respirations, pain level, height, weight, and head circumference/length for pediatric patients.
- Procedure Assistance: Setting up and meticulously maintaining sterile fields for various medical procedures, ensuring adherence to infection control standards.
- Medication and Treatment Administration: Safely administering oxygen, intravenous (IV) fluids, and prescribed medications via oral, rectal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular routes.
- Medical Documentation: Transcribing patient information accurately into medical records and official school forms, ensuring all documentation is complete and up-to-date.
- Patient Education: Providing essential teaching to patients and their families regarding self-care procedures, post-treatment instructions, and health maintenance, and documenting the education provided.
Requirements for Practical Nurse Position
To be considered for this critical role, applicants must meet specific eligibility and qualification criteria:
Basic Requirements:
- U.S. Citizenship: Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
- Licensure: A current, valid license to practice as a Practical Nurse (PN) or Vocational Nurse (VN) in a state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia is required. Alternatively, candidates who have applied for licensure may be considered, provided they furnish proof of application and obtain their license during the probationary period. Applications submitted without a current license must include a copy of the license, a notarized statement, or the license number and issuing state.
Specialized Experience:
- A minimum of one year of nursing experience is required. This experience must have been gained in a supervised medical setting, such as a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or similar facility. The experience should demonstrate a practical understanding of human body structure, sterile techniques, and standard nursing procedures.
- Qualifying experience includes tasks such as measuring patient vital signs, administering immunizations or medications through various routes, and screening patients or updating their medical records.
- Important Note: For this specific position, education cannot be substituted for the required experience. You must qualify based on your professional nursing experience alone.
Salary Overview
The salary for this Practical Nurse position is set annually and ranges from $50,434 to $65,565 per year. This range includes applicable locality pay, ensuring compensation reflects the cost of living in the Fort Drum, New York area. Potential opportunities for salary negotiation may be available for candidates new to federal service.
Benefits and Incentives
Joining the Defense Health Agency comes with a comprehensive benefits package and potential incentives designed to support federal employees:
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Federal employees are eligible for comprehensive health insurance plans.
- Retirement Plan: Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), depending on eligibility.
- Paid Time Off: Generous annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays.
- Life Insurance: Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI).
- Recruitment and Relocation Incentives: A recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
- Student Loan Repayment: Potential authorization for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP).
Note: Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized for this position.
Application Process and Tips
Applying for federal positions requires careful attention to detail. Follow these steps and tips to ensure your application is complete and competitive:
- Create/Login to USAJOBS: Ensure you have an active USAJOBS account. Log in to begin the application.
- Complete the Questionnaire: Answer all questions in the online occupational questionnaire accurately and honestly. Your responses are critical in determining your qualifications.
- Submit Required Documents: Upload all necessary supporting documents, including your resume, license/certification, and any other requested items, by the closing date.
- Craft a Detailed Resume: Your resume must be two pages or less. It should clearly outline your experience, highlighting duties and accomplishments relevant to the job description. Include employer names, titles, dates of employment (month/year), and hours worked per week.
- License Verification: Submit a copy of your current Practical Nurse license. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
- Review and Submit: Carefully review your entire application package for accuracy and completeness before final submission.
Pro Tip: Federal resumes often require more detail than private sector resumes. Be specific about your responsibilities and the outcomes of your work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is a 'Direct Hire Solicitation'? | A direct hire solicitation allows the agency to hire candidates directly from the applicant pool, potentially streamlining the hiring process compared to traditional methods. |
| Can I apply if my license is pending? | Yes, if you have applied for a license, you can apply. You must provide proof of application and obtain the license during your probationary period. Failure to do so may result in removal from the position. |
| Is federal experience mandatory? | No, federal experience is not mandatory. The requirement is one year of nursing experience in a supervised medical setting. This can include experience gained in non-federal environments like civilian hospitals or clinics. |
| Can I use my education to substitute for experience? | No, for this specific Practical Nurse position, substitution of education for the required one year of specialized experience is not permitted. You must meet the qualification based on your work history alone. |
| What is the salary range? | The annual salary ranges from $50,434 to $65,565. This figure includes potential locality pay adjustments. |
| Are relocation costs covered? | No, the payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized for this position, as it has been determined not to be in the government's interest. |
| What documentation is required? | You must submit your resume, completed online questionnaire responses, and proof of your Practical Nurse license. Additional documents like a cover letter or performance appraisal may be included. |
| Can multiple positions be filled from this announcement? | Yes, multiple vacancies may be filled from this announcement, and applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. |
This Practical Nurse position with the Defense Health Agency in Fort Drum, New York, offers a stable career path with competitive compensation and benefits, all while contributing to a critical national mission. If you are a qualified and dedicated Practical Nurse, we encourage you to apply through USAJOBS. Serve your country and advance your career by joining the DHA team today!
Why This Practical Nurse Job Matters
Serve our nation's heroes as a Practical Nurse at Fort Drum, New York! This is a direct hire opportunity with the Defense Health Agency, offering a competitive salary and the chance to make a real difference.
Practical Nurse Job Overview
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is seeking dedicated Practical Nurses to join their team at the Guthrie Army Health Clinic in Fort Drum, New York. This direct hire solicitation offers multiple vacancies and an ongoing application process, ensuring qualified candidates are considered as positions become available. As a Practical Nurse, you will play a vital role in providing essential healthcare services to military personnel and their families, supporting the readiness and well-being of our armed forces. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a critical mission within a dynamic healthcare environment.
Requirements for Practical Nurse
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Possess a current license to practice as a practical or vocational nurse in a U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia. Alternatively, you may apply if you have applied for such a license. If applying without a current license, you must provide documentation of your application, and licensure must be obtained during the probationary period.
- One year of progressive nursing experience in a supervised medical setting (e.g., hospital, clinic, nursing home) that demonstrates practical knowledge of anatomy, sterile techniques, and patient care procedures. This includes experience in measuring vital signs, administering medications and immunizations, and patient screening/record updates.
- Education substitution for experience is not permitted for this position.
Federal Benefits & Perks
- ✓Salary range of $50,434 - $65,565 per year.
- ✓Potential for recruitment or relocation incentives.
- ✓Potential for Student Loan Repayment Program authorization.
- ✓Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
- ✓Opportunities for salary negotiation may be available for new federal employees.
💡 How to Apply Practical Nurse Job & Insider Tips
Application Steps for Practical Nurse Job
- Create or log in to your USAJOBS account.
- Complete the online occupational questionnaire thoroughly.
- Submit all required supporting documents, including your resume and license/certification, by the application closing date.
- Ensure your resume is two pages or less and clearly details your qualifications and experience relevant to the position.
- Verify that your application package is complete and accurate before submitting.
💡 General Tips
- Thoroughly read the entire job announcement to understand all requirements and preferences.
- Tailor your resume to specifically address the specialized experience and duties mentioned in the announcement. Highlight relevant accomplishments and responsibilities.
- Ensure your resume includes specific details such as employer names, job titles, start/end dates (month/year), hours worked per week, and detailed descriptions of duties performed.
- Upload clear, legible copies of your Practical Nurse license or certification. Failure to do so will result in ineligibility.
- Double-check all information submitted for accuracy, as errors or omissions can affect your eligibility.
- Consider uploading a Cover Letter and your most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable, to further support your application.
- Be aware that supporting documents may take time to clear the virus scan process after upload.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 'Direct Hire Solicitation'?
A Direct Hire Solicitation means that the agency can select a candidate directly from the applicant pool without the need for a traditional competitive rating and ranking process, which can potentially speed up the hiring timeline.
Can I apply if I am currently in the process of obtaining my nursing license?
Yes, you can apply if you have applied for a license to practice as a practical or vocational nurse. However, you must furnish the date you applied and the jurisdiction involved, and you will be expected to obtain your license during the probationary period.
Is federal experience required for this position?
No, federal experience is not strictly required. The announcement specifies one year of nursing experience in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility. This experience can be paid or unpaid, including volunteer work.
Can I substitute my education for the required experience?
No, for this particular position, education cannot be substituted for the required one year of specialized experience. You must meet the qualification requirement through experience alone.
What is the salary range for this Practical Nurse position?
The annual salary for this position ranges from $50,434 to $65,565, inclusive of any applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
Will relocation expenses be paid?
Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized for this position, as a determination has been made that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.