Please Note: This is a Federal Civil Service position. Applicants interested in joining the Bureau of Prisons via the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS) should visit the PHS website to apply.

Registered Nurse - GS-610-9/10. Registered Nurses (RN) provide a full range of nursing services to inmates in Federal prisons, including assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the medical condition of inmate patients. RNs provide information to other health care team members and contribute to the maintenance or restoration of health status. Along with all other correctional institution employees, the incumbent is also charged with responsibility of maintaining the security of the institution. We have a continuous need for RNs around the country.

Professional Registration Requirement: Applicants must have an active, current registration as a professional nurse in a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Exception: Applicants who have graduated from an approved nursing educational program within the past 12 months may be appointed pending state registration as a professional nurse within six months of appointment. No person appointed pending registration may be retained beyond six months or promoted, if registration has not been attained.

Basic Education Requirements: Degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally-designated state accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Education equivalent to the type described above is acceptable. Professional registration as defined above meets this requirement. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-9 and/or GS-10 grade levels. GS-9: Successful completion of all requirements for a master's degree (or equivalent) in nursing, or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in nursing, or one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level in Federal service. This experience must have equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. GS-10: Successful completion of 2 ½ years of progressively higher-level graduate education in nursing, or one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level in Federal service. This experience must have equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Note: At all grade levels referenced above, graduate education must have been in nursing with a concentration in a field of nursing (e.g., teaching, a clinical specialty, research, administration) or in a closely-related non-nursing field directly applicable to the requirements of this position. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Candidates must demonstrate they have the following KSAs to successfully perform their job as a Registered Nurse: GS-9: (1) Knowledge of nursing care principles, practices, and procedures; (2) knowledge of safety principles and infection control in the patient care environment; (3) ability to assess patients' needs and coordinate appropriate nursing care plan; (4) ability to communicate orally; and (5) knowledge of rehabilitative nursing, pre- and post-operative care. GS-10: (1) Knowledge of nursing care principles, practices, and procedures; (2) knowledge of safety principles and infection control in the patient care environment; (3) ability to assess patient's needs and coordinate appropriate nursing care plan; and (4) knowledge of rehabilitative nursing pre- and post-operative care.

Application Process

To apply for Nurse positions at the lower grade levels (GS-05/07), as well as positions with the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS), follow the application procedures provided below: