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Practical Nurse/Vocational Nurse

Defense Health Agency
San Antonio, TX Full Time
POSTED ON 6/3/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 8/3/2026
Practical Nurse/Vocational Nurse Department of Defense Defense Health Agency Summary This job is open to Duties Requirements How you will be evaluated Required documents How to apply Summary About the Position: This is an open continuous announcement. Multiple vacancies exist and may be filled from this announcement at any of the locations listed. We accept applications on an ongoing basis; qualified applicants will be considered as vacancies become available. This is a Direct Hire Solicitation Learn more about this agency This job is open to Help The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Duties Help Obtain information from patient and/or family to identify major complaints, symptoms, or reason for seeking health care. Perform direct patient care and care coordination activities such as referral management, order reconciliation, and activity tracking. Take all vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respirations, pain level, height, weight, measurement of head circumference, and length); perform behavioral health screenings. Provide individualized nursing care to patients of all ages. Assist the physician with various examinations and diagnostic procedures. Administer oxygen, IV fluid and prescribed oral, rectal, subcutaneous and intramuscular medications. Perform inhalation treatments, fingerstick glucose, urine dipsticks, visual acuity, phlebotomy, dressing changes, and surgical instrument cleaning and packaging after use. Perform routine procedures, such as EKGs, eye, throat, nasal and/or wound cultures, dressing changes, ear irrigation, and application of bandages. Requirements Help Conditions of employment Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. A Personnel Security Investigation is required. This position may have specific initial background investigation and periodic re-verification requirements since its duties may require interaction with children and youth under the age of eighteen (18) years of age on a recurring basis. Selectees may 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 may be required. Immunization screening may be 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. May be required to obtain and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS. May be required to obtain and maintain certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). May be required to obtain and maintain certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). May be required to obtain and maintain certification in Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). 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 may be required. This position may require the incumbent to have tuberculosis testing. Additional requirements may be determined as positions arise and will be communicated during the hiring process if you are selected. Applicants must be able to fulfill non-privileged professional credential requirements. Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the licensing and 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 Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse: Licensure: A current license to practice as a practical or vocational nurse in a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; OR must have applied for a license to practice. Applications of candidates possessing a license must be accompanied by a certified or photostatic copy of the license, a notarized statement attesting to the fact, or a citation of the license number and State issuing it. Non-licensed candidates who have completed their training may be appointed subject to obtaining the required license during the probationary period. Those not licensed must furnish the date on which they applied for a license and the jurisdiction involved. No person appointed pending licensure may be retained beyond the probationary period if licensure has not been attained. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirement listed below: Qualifications for the GS-05 Experience: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Nursing experience is defined as measuring patient's vital signs, administering immunizations or medications via various routes and screening or updating patient medical records. This definition of nursing experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04). Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this grade level, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone - no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Qualifications for the GS-06 Experience: One year of nursing experience in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other supervised medical, nursing, or patient care facility that provided a practical knowledge of human body structure and sterile techniques and procedures, performing such duties as measuring patient's vital signs, administering immunizations or medications via various routes, screening or updating patient medical records and performing routine procedures, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), pulmonary function tests, wound care, audiograms and vision screenings. This definition of nursing experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. This announcement may be used to fill Practical or Vocational Nurse positions in the following specialty areas: Office Automation (OA), Administrative, Psychiatric, Advanced Practice, Obstetric/Gynecologic, General, Primary Care, Pediatric, Sports Medicine, Occupational/Community Health, Operating Room, Surgery, Lead Practical Nurse, Orthopedic/Podiatry, Supervisory Practical Nurse, Dermatology, Quality Assurance Evaluation, Gastroenterology, Pulmonary, or Instructor. Education See Qualifications section for education requirements. Additional information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. Permanent positions: One year trial/probationary period may be required. Term positions: One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. Recruitment or relocation incentives MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Student Loan repayment may be authorized. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Permanent, term, part-time, intermittent or temporary positions may be filled from this solicitation. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is temporary, full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Intermittent Positions: This position does not provide guaranteed work hours each week, and work will be assigned on an intermittent "as needed basis." This position will NOT lead to a full-time position. Intermittent employees are NOT eligible for benefits (Health and Life Insurance) (Annual and Sick Leave). Temporary Positions: A temporary position is time limited and may be extended in one-year increments to a maximum of three years and may be terminated at any time during the duration of the appointment. Term Positions: A term position is time-limited and may be extended to a maximum of eight years. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. Position may require employee to wear a uniform and/or protective clothing. Position may be 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 may be designated as Emergency Essential. Position may be designated as Key. Position may be designated as Mission Essential. This may be an obligated position. Positions listed with multiple grades may be filled at any grade level. Expand additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits How you will be evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates. Required Documents Help The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements. As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. 1. Your resume: Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position. Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume. If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy. For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume. 2. Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable License/Certification: This position requires a job-related license or certification. You MUST submit a copy of your license or certification with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses. NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. How to Apply Help To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/31/2026to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12866197). Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Expand how to apply Agency contact information Army Applicant Help Desk Website https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq Address DHA COE Healthcare Recruitment DO NOT MAIL Rock Island, IL 61299 US Next steps If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration. Expand next steps Fair and transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probationary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy Selective Service Signature and false statements Social security number request Overview Help Accepting applications Posted 02/01/26 · Apply by 07/31/26 Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 31, 2026 Location White Sands Missile Range, NM Many vacancies White Sands Missile Range, NM Many vacancies White Sands Missile Range, NM Many vacancies White Sands Missile Range, NM Many vacancies White Sands Missile Range, NM Many vacancies Bell County, TX Many vacancies Corpus Christi, TX Many vacancies Corpus Christi, TX Many vacancies El Paso, TX Many vacancies El Paso County, TX Many vacancies Fort Bliss, TX Many vacancies Fort Hood, TX Many vacancies Fort Sam Houston, TX Many vacancies Fort Worth, TX Many vacancies Kingsville, TX Many vacancies Lackland AFB, TX Many vacancies Randolph AFB, TX Many vacancies San Antonio, TX Many vacancies Work site options Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy. Salary $40,736 - $89,858 per year Pay scale & grade GS 5 - 6 Promotion potential 6 Learn more about pay scale and grade Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job. Work schedule Multiple Schedules Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Appointment type Multiple Occupations and job series 0620 Practical Nurse Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union No Drug test Yes Security clearance Not Required Financial disclosure required No Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests. Announcement number HSJW-26-12866197-DHA Control number 854531700

Salary : $40,736 - $89,858

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