Foreign Service Registered Nurse - Limited Non Career Appointment (RNLNA)

Applicants must have a minimum of five years of experience within the last six years providing direct patient care as a Registered Nurse.

Prior emergency and/or critical care experience with Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is preferable.

Prior military experience or experience with other U.S. agencies working abroad is desirable, but not required.

Applicants must be skilled and experienced nurses with excellent interpersonal skills. Applicants must be able to function well within a complex organization and have experience working in a high stress environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA)

The Department has conducted extensive job analysis research to determine Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) and other attributes conducive to successful performance in this position. An applicant’s education level, work experience, and other qualifications will be considered as part of the hiring decision-making process based on these KSA criteria.

Serving in support of the employees of the United States Government and their eligible family members, a RNLNA will work in conjunction with other Foreign Service medical personnel. The RNLNA duties include but are not limited to the following:

A. Health Orientation of New Arrivals:

• Assist administrative staff with patient forms and confirm medical clearance status for all eligible beneficiaries.

• Provide orientation to public health risks and preventive health behaviors.
  
• Assess health and immunization needs.
  
• Describe services provided by the health unit and various roles of health care personnel.
  
• Distribute a copy of the Health and Medical Information Booklet to all new employees.
  
• Complete age-appropriate health promotion reviews.

1. Coordinate Medical Clearance Examinations:
   

• Prepare requests for funding.

• Schedule medical appointments, labs, and special tests as required by Washington (e.g., colon screening, PSA, mammogram).
  
• Request consultations and additional studies to complete the clearance evaluation.
  
• Assist medical personnel with clinical examinations performed in the Health Unit and perform basic diagnostic assessment tests as approved by the Regional Medical Officer (RMO) or Medical Provider (MP).

• Review completed clearance exams for thoroughness and email/fax via secure line to the Department’s Office of Medical Services’ Medical Clearances.
  
• Package and ship lab specimens to the Department’s Office of Medical Service’s  (MED’s) lab as necessary.

1. Coordinate Medical Evacuations (Med Evac):

• Arrange Med Evacs through RMO/MP and in coordination with MED/Foreign Programs or other Regional Medical Evacuation sites.

• Coordinate requests for specialty appointments with MED/Foreign Programs and/or overseas Med Evac site.
  
• Request funding from MED or appropriate agency.

• Accompany patient as a medical attendant as needed.

1. Maintain an Immunization Clinic for Routine and Travel Immunizations:

• Assess each new patient’s immunization needs and make recommendations.

• Follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines for immunization.

• Maintain logs and/or databases with Federal Requirements for record keeping of administered vaccines.
  
• Budget, order, and rotate vaccine stock.

• Maintain current knowledge of recommended immunization schedules and management/reporting of adverse events.

1. Serve as point of contact for Regional Medical Officers/Medical Providers and Office of Medical Services:
   

• Coordinate transmission of prescriptions with RMO/MP.
  
• Regular communication with RMO/MP.

1. Maintain an occupational health clinic during assigned work hours:

• Maintain custody and proper internal controls for the Health Unit. This includes ordering and inventory control of medical supplies and medications.

• Utilize the nursing process in providing patient care (assessment, nursing diagnosis, plan, intervention, and evaluation) to employees (US Direct Hire, Locally Employed Staff, any eligible beneficiary).

• Evaluate and assess patients within the scope of training and expertise by means of health history, observation, interview, physical examination, and other selected diagnostic measures. Interpret, review, and record history and clinical findings.

• Select appropriate action and initiates treatment or referral if indicated according to the nurse’s scope of practice.  This will include triage.

• Maintain an overseas medical record (paper or electronic) of all employee visits to the Health Unit.

• Dispense medications according to protocols approved by the RMO.

• Render first aid and emergency treatment to the sick and injured anywhere on the embassy compound as appropriate.

• Perform periodic sanitation inspections as directed by the RMO/MP or the Management Office.

• Test and maintain emergency equipment and safe haven materials in coordination with the Regional Security Officer (RSO).

• Conduct workplace health and safety surveys with the Post’s Occupational Safety and Health Officer (POSHO).

• Maintain accident log and/or accident reporting documents per MED/Safety Health Environmental Management (SHEM) guidelines.

1. Maintain current working knowledge and U.S. license/credentials:
   

• Maintain good communication and working relationship with staff in Health Unit.

• Participate in staff meetings.

1. Must be available outside of normal embassy working hours:

• Participate in Embassy medical duty call rotation as appropriate.
  
• Respond to urgent telephone requests for medical information from the duty officer during off-duty hours.

• May be required to travel as a medical attendant during a medical evacuation.

• Attend continuing medical education conferences held outside of country as scheduled.

• May be required to make visits during off-duty hours to monitor an individual’s care.
  
• Available to respond to the embassy on an emergency basis.

1. Reporting requirements:
   

• Monthly Statistics Report for Washington and in conjunction with RMO/MP provides input to the Post Medical Capability Database, Annual Update of Health and Medical Information Guide with distribution to MED and Maintain or contribute to an Accident Report Log.
  

1. Health Promotion Program

• Write health promotion/education articles for the embassy newsletter.

• Provide health promotion and safety activities at the embassy.
  
• Conduct health education programs to include first aid, CPR, HIV/STD, smoking cessation and weight control.

• Document health promotion activities on State Department health promotions flow sheet.

1. Additional Administrative Duties:

• Regular use and update as appropriate of State Department medical regulations as delineated in 16 Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM).
  
• Serve on other committees as appointed.
  
• Maintain written or electronic record of policies and procedures for the Health Unit.

• Assist Department and MED in obtaining medical information and completing documentation for local Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) claims when necessary.
  
• Other duties and training as assigned by RMO/MP.
  

Other requirements include worldwide availability, tolerance of intensive world travel, living away from family, and working and living in difficult and/or isolated conditions.

Level IV English ability (fluent) is required. Successful applicants must also consistently meet a high standard for English, both written (overall structure as well as grammar, spelling, and punctuation) and spoken (overall structure as well as delivery, clarity, and succinctness).