U.S. Office of Personnel Mgt.

United States Office of Personnel Management

Operating Manual

Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions

Individual Occupational Requirements for

GS-620:    Practical Nurse Series

The text below is extracted verbatim from Section IV-B of the Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions (p.IV-B-94), but contains minor edits to conform to web-page requirements.

This is an individual qualification standard.

Basic Requirements:

Licensure: Candidates must be currently licensed to practice as practical or vocational nurses in a State or 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.

Applicants who meet the licensure requirement are considered fully qualified for GS-3.

Additional Requirements for Grades GS-4 and Above:
EXPERIENCE
Qualifying experience includes nursing care work 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:

  • Providing pre- and post-operative patient care.
  • Observing, recording, and reporting changes in behavior of mentally ill patients.
  • Providing reassurance and encouragement to mentally ill patients.
  • Assisting surgeons and registered nurses in operating room activities, including passing instruments, maintaining sterile conditions, and draping and positioning patients.
  • Setting up and operating special medical equipment and apparatus.

For GS-4: 6 months of nursing experience is required.
For GS-5 and above: 1 year of nursing experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level is required.

OR

EDUCATION/TRAINING
For GS-4: Successful completion of a program in practical nursing of a least 9 months' duration combined with 1 year of nursing assistant experience; or successful completion of a 2-year degree program in an accredited community college, junior college, or college or university in practical nursing.

Page created 22 March 1999