Advanced Practice Nurse; Nurse Practitioner

Summary

At the Indian Health Service, Nurse Practitioners 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's needed most.

• Analyze and interpret patient histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.
• Develop treatment plans based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.
• Diagnose or treat acute health‑care problems such as illnesses, infections, and injuries.
• Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, dosage, and frequencies.
• Educate patients about self‑management of acute or chronic illnesses, tailoring instructions to patients' individual circumstances.

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education to perform the duties of the position. Experience includes paid, unpaid, volunteer, and part‑time work, provided it reflects the required responsibilities.

Requirements include:

• Graduate or higher‑level degree, bachelor’s, associate or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program.
• Accreditation must be from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or another U.S. Department of Education‑recognized accrediting body.
• A current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
• For advanced practice nurse positions, licensure in the clinical specialty required by the position.
• Completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.
• Successful E‑Verify employment verification check.
• Probationary period may apply.
• U.S. citizenship and male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.

• GS‑9:
  Applicants meeting the above advanced practice nurse education and licensure requirements qualify.
• GS‑11:
  In addition to the above, must complete a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing or related medical science program, or have at least one full year of professional advanced practice nursing experience.
• GS‑12:
  Must have at least one year of professional advanced practice nursing experience equivalent to the GS‑11 grade level.

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower federal grade level in either the private or public sector, performing the following tasks:

• Provide medical care and guidance in nutrition, common illnesses, accidents, child growth/development, and child rearing.
• Develop or initiate health‑care needs for patients.
• Work collaboratively with physicians in management of selected complex medical problems.
• Refer patients to appropriate medical facilities and provide emergency services or crisis intervention procedures.
• Prescribe and monitor medications or therapies.

For GS‑12 level, additional tasks include performing, requesting, and interpreting special screening, developmental, or laboratory tests, and collaborating with health‑care professionals to develop treatment protocols, standards of practice, and policies.

Applicants may be required to provide health vaccinations (Measles, Rubella, seasonal influenza) and standby duty or on‑call hours. Positions involve rotating shifts of 8, 10, or 12 hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Successful applicants must maintain financial responsibility; any significant delinquent or unresolved financial obligations may render a candidate unsuitable for employment.