Nurse (All Specialties)

At the Indian Health Service (IHS), Nurses do more than practice medicine-they change lives. Guided by our mission to raise the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you'll deliver compassionate care where it's needed most.

Your expertise brings healing and hope across generations. Begin your journey with purpose - AND receive a recruitment/relocation sign-on bonus, if you are eligible.

A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Registered Nurse Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

Not all locations may have immediate vacancies. The purpose of this position is to provide comprehensive care to pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients within the Indian Health Service within the Emergency Department, Obstetrics/Labor and Delivery, Operating Room, and Med/Surg-Inpatient.

ER Duties:

• Assessing, planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating the delivery of skilled patient care in accordance with nursing standards and evidence-based practice.
• Performing triage using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) system to determine patient acuity and prioritize treatment needs.
• Providing comprehensive emergency care to stable, unstable, and critically ill patients, including stabilization, resuscitation, and life-support interventions.
• Utilizing critical thinking skills to make complex clinical decisions and respond effectively to rapidly changing patient conditions.

OB Duties:

• Provides professional nursing care in the obstetrical unit for patients in labor and delivery, postpartum through discharge, and for newborns from birth to discharge.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates individualized patient care plans across the continuum of care including antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, obstetrical triage, and newborn nursery services.
• Obtain and maintain certifications as required by hospital policy, such as Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ACLS), and Neo-Natal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Fetal Monitoring.

OR Duties:

• Assessing patient condition based on observation, physical examination, interview, physician diagnosis, laboratory data, and age-specific needs.
• Providing pre- and post-operative education, emotional support, and guidance to patients and families regarding procedures, recovery expectations, and self-care.
• Performing pre-, intra-, and post-operative assessments in PACU, Same-Day Surgery, and Pre-Admission units, ensuring safe patient transitions and timely documentation.
• Maintaining required certifications (e.g., ACLS, BLS, PALS) and demonstrating competency in advanced perioperative and procedural nursing skills.
• If needed will function as the primary scrub technician and be responsible for handling instrument, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures.

Med-Surg-Inpatient Duties:

• Promoting evidence-based nursing practice through coordinating care focused on patient education, self-management, and overall satisfaction throughout the continuum of inpatient care.
• Administering medications and performing procedures in accordance with established policies and clinical standards.
• Participating in performance improvement, patient safety, and quality initiatives to enhance clinical effectiveness and efficiency.

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

Degree and License Waiting Period for Impending Graduates: The Hiring Manager/Selecting Official may elect to utilize an available flexibility wherein applicants who are currently enrolled and expected to complete the required education and obtain the required licensure/certification/registration with 9 month(s) of applying, may be deemed tentatively qualified. Applicants who have not completed their education requirements (but who are within the established timeframe for qualifying) must submit:

• Documentation from the educational institution's registrar, dean or other appropriate official that attests to the applicable timeframe for completion of the professional program/coursework AND
• A copy of the most recent unofficial transcript.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
Education A graduate or higher-level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education(external link), Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs(external link), Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education(external link), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.

Degree from Foreign Nursing School: Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (external link) is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools.

Licensure For all grade levels and positions, applicants must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination(external link). In addition, they must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Basic Requirements for the GS-5

• Possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing with no experience; or
• Possession of a diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and one full year of professional nursing experience.

Basic Requirements for the GS-7

• Possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing and eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement provision;
• Possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing and at least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-5 grade level);
• Possession of a diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and two full years of professional nursing experience; or
• Completion of at least one full year of graduate education in a professional nursing educational program.

In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below-

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:

ER Specialized experience GS-07

• Performs under general supervision of a RN who will review work periodically. Duties include: assessing and caring for the nursing needs of patients and other types of patients as assigned; developing plans of care to meet the needs of assigned patients; recognizing adverse signs and symptoms and reacting swiftly in emergency situations; and basic knowledge of triaging patients.

OB Specialized experience GS-07

• Provides professional obstetrical nursing care to patients under close supervision. Reviews medical records, administers medications as prescribed, and assists physicians and midwives with procedures. Develops or participates in the development of nursing care plans to meet the needs of assigned patients in accordance with established obstetrical nursing standards, policies, and procedures. Monitoring maternal and fetal status and reporting deviations from expected findings.

OR Specialized experience GS-07

• Perform in an advanced trainee capacity to higher level OR nurses; Certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS); Observes patient's conditions, Assesses nursing needs, and provides required nursing care; Administer as prescribed oral medications, hypodermic injections and intravenous feeding; Observe and record temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiration data and effects of medication; Prepare patients for tests, examinations and treatment; Prepare and review records.

Med/Surg-Inpatient Specialized experience GS-07

• Conduct comprehensive nursing assessments and independently identify changes in patient condition; Administer medications and treatments independently while evaluating patient responses and initiate nursing interventions; Develop and update individualized nursing care plans and nursing diagnoses based on assessment data and evidence-based practice; Provide individualized patient and family education tailored to patient needs, cultural considerations, and health literacy; Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare team members to coordinate patient care and modify patient care plans.

Click on the following link to view occupational requirements for this position: Nurse Series 0610

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Direct Hire Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same.

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

IHS Selectees that will work in an IHS health care facility may be subject to Employee Health Policies related to Measles and Rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations. Vaccine exemption requests may be available according to the National and/or Service Unit guidance.

The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain any licensure requirements.

On-call hours or standby duty may be required.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

Position subject to rotating shifts; days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Shift rotations may vary from 8-, 10-and 12-hour shifts.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement:
This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.

A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service.

Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.