Summary 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. USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements Responsibilities Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Registered Nurse Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov) The Inpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) (Med-Surg) provides competent, evidence-based, and patient-centered nursing care to individuals admitted to inpatient medical-surgical or specialty units. The RN demonstrates leadership, sound clinical judgment, and professional accountability in managing complex patient care across the continuum of inpatient services. The nurse collaborates with physicians, interdisciplinary team members, and other healthcare professionals to ensure high-quality outcomes and patient satisfaction. The purpose of this position is to provide comprehensive care to pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients within the Indian Health Service. Their responsibilities include: Performing comprehensive assessments, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care based on clinical findings and the nursing process. 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. Recognizing changes in patient condition, identifying urgent or emergent situations, and initiating appropriate interventions to ensure patient safety. Ensuring compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards and maintaining knowledge of current clinical and operational guidelines. Participating in performance improvement, patient safety, and quality initiatives to enhance clinical effectiveness and efficiency. Requirements Conditions of Employment Selectee may be subject to a trial or probationary period U.S. Citizenship is required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959, www.sss.gov. 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 medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service. On-call hours or standby duty may be required. Position may be subject to rotating shifts: days, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. 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/. 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. Qualifications 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 6 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): Note: Employees currently assigned to positions in the 0610 occupational series as of September 2017 will be considered to have met the basic requirements for the position occupied. 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, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Degree from Foreign Nursing School: Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools 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. 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. In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below- MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Note: All grade levels may not be available at all locations. GS-5: Applicant(s) must meet one of the following minimum requirements to meet the GS-5 level: 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 which includes: Perform routine patient assessments, including documenting vital signs and observing patient conditions under the supervision of a licensed nurse; Administer medications and treatments per established protocols and report adverse reactions or changes in patient condition; Assist with implementation of nursing care plans and nursing diagnoses using standard guidelines; Provide standardized patient and family education related to medical conditions, medications, and post-operative care; Document nursing care and patient responses accurately in the electronic medical record. GS-7: Applicant(s) must meet one of the following minimum requirements to meet the GS-7 level: Possession of a bachelor's degree in nursing and eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement provision; or 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) which includes: 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, or 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. GS-9: Applicant(s) must meet one of the following minimum requirements to meet the GS-9 level: Possession of a master's degree in professional nursing; or Possession of a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree in nursing from a professional nursing program and at least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-7 grade level or above) which includes: Perform complex assessments of patients with acute, chronic, and post-operative conditions and independently identify and respond to changes in clinical status; Manage medication administration for patients with complex medical needs, including high-risk medications, and evaluating therapeutic outcomes; Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care plans and nursing diagnoses for patients with multifaceted care requirements; Serve as a clinical resource or preceptor for less experienced nursing staff by providing guidance, mentoring, and clinical support; Participate in interdisciplinary care planning, quality improvement initiatives, and evidence-based practice activities to improve patient outcomes. GS-11: Applicant(s) must meet one of the following minimum requirements to meet the GS-11 level: Successful completion of a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing educational program or related medical science field; or Possession of a diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree from a professional nursing educational program and at least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-9 grade level) which includes: Function as a senior clinical expert managing care for patients with highly complex, high-risk, or unstable conditions; Provide clinical leadership and guidance to nursing staff as a subject matter expert in medical-surgical nursing; Lead or coordinate unit-level quality improvement, patient safety, or evidence-based practice initiatives to improve patient outcomes and clinical workflows; Participate in development and implementation of nursing policies, procedures, and clinical practice guidelines; Support onboarding, training, and competency validation of nursing staff and serve as a lead preceptor or informal team lead; Collaborate with nursing leadership and interdisciplinary partners to address system-level issues affecting patient care delivery, staffing, and resource utilization. Click on the following link to view occupational requirements for this position: Nurse Series 0610 You must meet all qualification requirements by the respective cut-off day of rating to be eligible for consideration. Education 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/. Additional Information Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. This position may be covered by a Bargaining Unit. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. A service agreement will be required. The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit: For IHS - http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/ For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/ For HRSA Nurse Corps - https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps Not all locations may have a promotion potential to the GS-11 level. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your demonstrated ability to perform the higher level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. Promotion to the next higher grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied. You will be evaluated for this position in accordance with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan. As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide short essay responses (200 words or less each) to the following four questions. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Your responses are optional and will not be scored. However, they may be reviewed by hiring managers and agency leadership (or designees) during the evaluation process. You will be asked to certify that your responses are written in your own words and that you did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) tool (such as ChatGPT or Copilot). Financial Suitability Requirement: This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying. Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).
