USPHS and ending the nursing hiring freeze?!?

pennprincess · Mar 15, 2014

Application update:

Got a voicemail earlier this week stating that my PHS 1662 (memo stating my BOP position is cleared to be converted by my warden) was received. Thats it.

Got a call yesterday from the Call to Duty team stating I am good to go to fill out the medical/dental forms, and he asked for my mailing address to get fingerprinted, and to initiate a background check. States even if I got these done immediately, they anticipate getting commissioned at the earliest June. I heard it takes ~4 months for presidential appointment so it may even be longer than this.

Moral of this story is - if you already have a job you should process your PHS 1662 form stating your position is convertible from GS to PHS, and they process your application quicker. This may be why I didn't need to interview? Who knows, maybe I'll get a call next week stating I still need to interview, but hopefully not since I'm at the next stage.

I knew I needed a memo, but generated a generic one with my application. Did not know there was a specific memo for this. If I had known I may be ahead of this game! I would love to be part of the recruitment team someday after learning all this... may be a calling for me.

Will keep everyone updated. :)

There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

PG2018 · Mar 22, 2014

I've just finished reading about USPHS. How interesting! It's a bit confusing though. Do you get a job at one of the agencies served by USPHS first, or do you join the USPHS and get assigned a billet somewhere? There are apparently none in my state, and that's unfortunate. The readiness aspects are pretty neat as well. If anyone wants to respond with more information, I'm a RN with a BSN, have an EMT cert I used on a part-time basis ten years ago so have really done anything with it, and I'm in a grad program to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a year to go.

pennprincess · Mar 23, 2014

Either or, for instance I got a job with BOP knowing I wanted to get into USPHS, and they are converting my position. There are other people I know that have applied to PHS and do not have a job yet. You don't get assigned though, its up to you to find a position within one of the agencies. So if you find something go for it, but if they open up to psych NP's apply because it does take a long time.

NP Suelo · Apr 6, 2014

Hello Pennprincess,

Have you received your "call to active duty" if so, how do you like working in the BOP as a USPHS officer? Are the hours long working in the BOP and do you feel safe in the environment? Just curious because I've been thinking about the same type career in the near future.

Thanks,

pennprincess · Apr 6, 2014

NP Suelo,

I have not yet but am excited to be official! Working in the BOP as a USPHS officer will be no different for me than now, as I am a civilian employee in the BOP, and I dont anticipate any real change in the actual job. My hours are 6-2p monday-friday, and I do feel safe where I'm at. Just need to stay on high-alert, and the BOP teaches you "situational awareness".

:)

PG2018 · Apr 6, 2014

NP Suelo,
I have not yet but am excited to be official! Working in the BOP as a USPHS officer will be no different for me than now, as I am a civilian employee in the BOP, and I dont anticipate any real change in the actual job. My hours are 6-2p monday-friday, and I do feel safe where I'm at. Just need to stay on high-alert, and the BOP teaches you "situational awareness".
:)

Any idea what the FDA and CDC jobs for RNs in the USPHS entail? I like the less hands-on stuff, lol, so I'm sure there are others out there like that. I'm actually in a Psych NP program and will finish that next May. I'm savoring getting into that role, and a search of Google found PMHNP jobs out there for USPHS officers. Also, if you've seen the movie Contagion, Bryan Cranston's character played a USPHS officer presumably with the CDC. Was he a MD though? I'm not sure.

NP Suelo · Apr 27, 2014

Pennprincess,

Sorry for the delayed reply, but thanks for insightful information. Sounds like a good job. I was wondering what type of medical conditions you treat in that type of setting. Do you mostly manage chronic conditions or treat acute problems? How big is your assigned a case load, what type of oversight do you have, and how long are the appt times? Sorry for all the questions but though I have been a nurse for 10yrs I will be a new NP graduate in December so am not familiar yet with this type of a job. Any tips for interviewing for a BOP job? That will be all for now=) Hope all is going well with your appointment.

NP Suelo

pennprincess · May 21, 2014

Psychguy: I know one guy who works with the FDA. Likes it better than BOP, and is an inspector. Know he travels to site and investigates things. I don't know much else.

NP Suelo: I mostly treat acute problems at my institution, but it may vary based on institution. My caseload is approximately 300 inmates, but I do daily sick call and can see anywhere from 5-75 inmates a day based on need. It may take a few minutes to talk to inmates, but then to go back and chart takes the rest of the day. I do not have a set appointment time/day. Once again though, this is institution based. I know our sister institution that does have inmates report to health services for appointments can average 1-4 inmates an hour. You would have to get in touch with your nearest facility if you are interested and see how they run things.

PS: Got notification to start my background check. Still hoping for June! *wishful thinking* :)

pennprincess · May 28, 2014

Update!

With the Memorial Day Weekend I got behind on the security log in issues I had. Anyways, this week they reset my username and I submitted my background check today! Hopefully my next communcation will be my CAD notification! :)

pennprincess · Jul 14, 2014

And my second to final update.... Called to see how my background check was going, and I needed to submit a second set of fingerprints. Did this, waited another 2 weeks and called for an update, and was emailed with a response stating I still needed to interview, which they scheduled for last friday. I interviewed, and got a response today that they are recommending me! So now, all I'm waiting for, since I have everything, is a CAD start date! woohoo!

pennprincess · Sep 29, 2014

Ok, so **Important for future applicants*** - because my application process was backwards, with the interview being last, it has delayed my application process and CAD date. After you get professionally boarded, which is your interview should you be required to get one, does your name go from the Department of Health and Human Services to the president for presidential nomination. As this takes 3-4 months, I am now behind that far. However, as my interview was in July - I am hoping (but following up on) that they automatically forward names once you've been professionally boarded. So after reviewing my application process I would say make sure you get professionally boarded first so that while you're getting medically and background checks completed this can be in motion to streamline things.

... and to look back at June of 2013 and say I was getting impatient then! This is one LONGGG process.

pennprincess · Oct 17, 2014

Got my orders today! Will start in December 2014! so excited to begin! :)