Nurse, Healthcare Nursing

Overview

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 will deliver compassionate care where it is needed most.

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

• Assess patient condition based on observation, physical examination, interview, physician diagnosis, laboratory data, and age‑specific needs.
• Formulate, implement, and document individualized plans of care based on assessment findings.
• Respond to life‑threatening situations and initiate emergency resuscitation measures in accordance with adult and pediatric resuscitation protocols.
• Provide pre‑ and post‑operative education, emotional support, and guidance to patients and families regarding procedures, recovery expectations, and self‑care.
• Perform pre‑, intra‑, and post‑operative assessments in PACU, Same‑Day Surgery, and Pre‑Admission units, ensuring safe patient transitions and timely documentation.
• Administer medications under protocol and monitor patient hemodynamics, airway, tissue perfusion, and surgical sites for bleeding or complications.
• Supervise the delivery of nursing care by other professional and non‑professional staff, providing guidance, evaluation, and feedback as needed.
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and the interdisciplinary team to plan, coordinate, and evaluate patient care.
• Maintain required certifications (e.g., ACLS, BLS, PALS) and demonstrate competency in advanced perioperative and procedural nursing skills.
• Perform on‑call duties and standby work as required.
• Assist as primary scrub technician and second circulator for complex surgical procedures.

• Graduate or higher level degree in Nursing (bachelor’s, associate, or diploma) from an accredited professional nursing program, or foreign diploma with official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
• Current, active, full, unrestricted nursing license from a state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or U.S. territory.
• Pass the National Council Licensure Examination.
• Minimum of one year of professional nursing experience in an inpatient or perioperative setting (GS‑5 requirement); additional experience or advanced degree may be required for higher grades.
• Certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).
• Strong knowledge of infection control, patient safety, and perioperative nursing practices.
• Complete a federal background investigation and meet all security, medical, and financial suitability requirements.

U.S. citizenship is required. Selectees may be subject to a probationary period and must undergo a federal background investigation. The position may include rotating shifts, on‑call hours, and standby duty.