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Posted: April 8, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Nursing Assistant

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Fresh

Salary

$43,693 - $62,462

per year

Closes

April 22, 2026More DOJ jobs →

SES Pay Grade

Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900

Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as a nursing assistant in a federal prison, helping nurses care for patients with psychiatric or long-term medical needs, while also maintaining security to keep the facility safe.

You'll assist with daily patient tasks like monitoring health changes, supporting admissions, and ensuring a secure environment for inmates preparing to reenter society.

It's a good fit for someone with healthcare experience who is reliable, compassionate, and comfortable in a structured, high-security setting.

Key Requirements

  • For GL-04: Successful completion of a 2-year degree in practical nursing or related field (e.g., psychology, psychiatric technician), OR 6 months general experience plus 6 months specialized nonprofessional nursing care experience in settings like hospitals or nursing homes.
  • For GL-05: Bachelor's degree with related courses, OR at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the lower grade level, such as providing personal nursing care to mentally ill or long-term patients.
  • Combination of education and experience that equips you to perform patient care duties, including credit for paid or unpaid work with documented hours.
  • Ability to assist RNs and LPNs with patient care activities, including pre- and post-operative care, observing and reporting patient behavior changes, and maintaining sterile conditions.
  • Experience in recording patient data (e.g., vital signs, intake/output), using proper body mechanics for patient transfer, and donning/doffing personal protective equipment.
  • Responsibility for institutional security, which takes precedence over other duties and involves regular correctional tasks in a prison environment.
  • Eligibility based on application responses, with rotations in assignments and variable hours.

Full Job Description

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements: Education: GL-04: Successful completion of a 2-year degree program in an accredited community college, junior college or college university in practical nursing or in a field of study appropriate to the specialization of the position, such as education in a program for a psychology, psychiatric or operating room technician.

GL-05: Four year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation.

OR Experience: GL-04: Six months of General Experience and six months of Specialized Experience.

General Experience is any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.

Qualifying specialized experience includes nonprofessional nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other medical, nursing, or patient care facility, or in such work as that of a home health aide.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: Experience in assisting patients with transfer or transportation utilizing good body mechanics and safety precautions./li> Experience in recording patient care duties in the medical record, such as documenting Intake and Output, vital signs, or hygiene tasks.

Experience in appropriate donning and doffing of personal protective equipment necessary to protect staff and patient safety.

GL-05: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.

Qualifying specialized experience includes nonprofessional nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other medical, nursing, or patient care facility, or in such work as that of a home health aide.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: Experience in providing personal nursing care, such as providing pre- and post-operative care.

Experience in caring for mentally ill and long-term patients, including observing, recording, and reporting change in their behavior.

Experience assisting physicians and nurses with exams or treatments dealing with patient care, including turning and positioning patients, draping, maintaining sterile conditions and use of safety restraints.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: GL-04 and GL-05: Have a combination of education and experience.

This experience must have equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above. If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience.

To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.** Major Duties:

Assists Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) in performing patient care activities for psychiatric and long-term medical/surgical patients.

Rotates with other nursing assistants in assignments, working variable hours. Assists with admissions and dismissals, including delivery of medical records as necessary.

Reports pertinent data in a timely manner to the medical staff including changes in patient's condition requiring assessment and/or further intervention.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution.

The staff's correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 4/8/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 4/9/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: SPG-2026-0095