Nurse; ER

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 will deliver compassionate care where it’s needed most.

When you join, you may be eligible for a recruitment/relocation sign‑on bonus.

The Emergency Department Registered Nurse provides competent, evidence‑based, patient‑centered care to patients with urgent, emergent, surgical, critical care, trauma, or psychiatric conditions. The RN is accountable for all elements of the nursing process and serves as an essential member of the healthcare team, ensuring safe, high‑quality, and efficient care in a high‑acuity environment.

• Assess, plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate skilled patient care in accordance with nursing standards and evidence‑based practice.
• Perform triage using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) system to determine patient acuity and prioritize treatment needs.
• Provide comprehensive emergency care to stable, unstable, and critically ill patients, including stabilization, resuscitation, and life‑support interventions.
• Utilize critical thinking skills to make complex clinical decisions and respond effectively to rapidly changing patient conditions.
• Supervise the delivery of nursing care by other professional and non‑professional staff, providing guidance, evaluation, and feedback as needed.
• Operate and maintain specialized medical equipment such as defibrillators, electrocardiogram monitors, IV pumps, oxygen flowmeters, and bladder scanners.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers to develop and implement coordinated care plans.

• U.S. citizenship required; males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered.
• Submit direct‑deposit information for payroll.
• Public law 101‑630 requires applicants for positions involving contact or control over Indian children to have no qualifying criminal convictions.
• Eligible selectees may be subject to a probationary period.
• Must pass an E‑Verify employment verification check.
• Position subject to rotating shifts (days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays) and may include on‑call hours or standby duty.
• Successful completion of a federal background investigation is required.

• Graduate or higher level degree, bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing program.
• Licensed as a registered nurse in a U.S. state, D.C., Puerto Rico, or U.S. territory, and have passed the National Council Licensure Examination.
• For GS‑9 and above: experience in a specialty area of nursing is frequently required.
• Basic qualifications vary by grade; see original job announcement for specific requirements for GS‑5, GS‑7, GS‑9, and GS‑11.
• Minimum qualifications include at least one year of specialized emergency nursing experience (GS‑7, GS‑9, or GS‑11 levels as appropriate).
• Qualifying experience may include paid, volunteer, or part‑time work; total hours per week must be identified.

Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility and satisfy all legal financial obligations. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, and a 6‑month service agreement is required. The Indian Health Service may offer loan repayment programs for certain eligible health disciplines. Promotion potential to the GS‑11 grade level exists but is discretionary.

Applicants will respond to up to four short essay questions (200 words or less each) during the application process.

Review the benefits package available to Indian Health Service employees.