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 for subtle changes in condition. 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 and 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. The incumbent has knowledge of adverse effects and precautions and initiates remedial measures as necessary. Monitors patients with epidurals in place, documents findings, and reports to anesthesia provider. Is responsible for the security of narcotics, high risk medications, and other controlled substances. - Assist physicians and nurse midwives in examination and treatment in the delivery room. Delivers babies in emergency situation. Confers with providers concerning instruments, sutures, special equipment and procedures unique to vaginal /instrument/cesarean delivery. 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. In accordance with command and unit policy, provides primary operating room circulating duties for Cesarean Sections and tubal ligations, and initiates and/or assists with operating room circulating duties for emergency obstetric surgeries including hysterectomy, dilation and curettage, and exploratory laparotomy following Cesarean delivery. - Provides post anesthesia care. Assesses and cares for obstetric patients that receive epidural, spinal, or general anesthesia. Has knowledge of common obstetric anesthetic agents including actions and adverse reactions in order to recognize positive and negative effects and respond appropriately. Must be able to recognize and respond to anesthetic complications and emergencies including, but not limited to, 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; health promotion. Initiates discharge planning / teaching upon admission of each patient. Actively participates in multidisciplinary discharge planning. Provides emotional support to patients, family members and significant others. Provides comprehensive nursing 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 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. - 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 (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. - 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. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS. - Must be able to obtain and maintain certification in Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). - Applicants must be able to fulfill non-privileged professional credential requirements. - This position may include shift work (evenings, weekends, holidays). - 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 during irregular work hours which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and/or varying work schedules. - This position may require the incumbent to work on call during irregular work hours which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and/or varying work schedules. - This position may require the incumbent to work weekends and/or holidays. - Moderate to heavy lifting up to 50 pounds is required. - Position is designated as Inclement Weather Essential. The incumbent must make every attempt to report for work on time and/or remain on duty during severe weather conditions. - Position is designated as Mission Essential. The incumbent will be required to report to work during times of contingency operations, natural disasters, extreme weather or other emergency situations. - Position requires employee to wear a uniform and/or protective clothing. - One year trial/probationary period may be required. - Position is being filled at the GS-05/07/09/11 target GS-11 level. Duties described reflect the full performance GS-11 level. Duties will be performed in a developmental capacity under close supervision. This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management. - Management may select at any of the grade levels announced. This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management. Duties described reflect the full performance GS-11 level. If not selected at the full performance, duties will be performed in a developmental capacity under close supervision.