Nurse (Public Health)

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to provide professional community/public health nursing services through direct care to individuals, families, and identified populations through direct care, home and school visiting, and population-based assessment, prevention, and intervention activities.

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

Duties

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Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job:

Registered Nurse Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

Provide community and public health nursing services to individuals, families, and populations through nursing assessments, direct care, home and school visits, case finding, screenings, immunizations, disease management, and follow-up. Conduct or support community health assessments, collect and analyze epidemiological and demographic data, identify health trends and risk factors, and participate in communicable disease surveillance and outbreak response. Plan and provide health education, counseling, outreach, screenings, immunization activities, and disease-prevention interventions tailored to the cultural and social needs of individuals, families, and communities.

Coordinate referrals, follow-up, and case management while collaborating with interdisciplinary healthcare teams, tribal programs, schools, community organizations, and public health partners to support continuity of care. Support public health nursing programs through quality improvement, program evaluation, accurate documentation and reporting, continuing education, training, and adherence to professional nursing standards.

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.

IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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 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.

The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including 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/.

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.

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).

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.

Basic Requirements

General Schedule Qualification Standards - Nurse Series 0610

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.

Basic Requirements For The Gs-7 Grade Level

Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify at this grade 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) performing the following

duties

Provide direct nursing care and clinical interventions, including conducting health screenings, administering immunizations, performing nursing procedures, and reporting significant findings or changes in patient condition; Document nursing care and health information in electronic health records while following established nursing standards, clinical protocols, privacy requirements, and patient confidentiality requirements. OR; Possession of a diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and two full years of professional nursing experience performing the following

duties

Provide information to individuals, families, and community groups regarding maternal and child health, immunizations, chronic disease management, and communicable disease prevention; Review patient records, track referrals, coordinate appointments, document outcomes, and supporting continuity of care for individuals and families. OR; Completion of at least one full year of graduate education in a professional nursing educational program.

Basic Requirements For The Gs-9 Grade Level

Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify at this grade level:

Possession of a master's degree in professional nursing. OR; Possession of a diploma, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree in nursing from a professional nursing program and at least one (1) full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-7 grade level) performing the following

duties

Provide professional community/public health nursing services to individuals and families, including performing home and school visits, administering immunizations and treatments, and evaluating patient responses; Conduct population health assessment, disease surveillance, and prevention activities, including collecting and validating epidemiological data, identifying health trends and risk factors, and assisting with communicable disease investigations, case interviews, contact identification, reporting, follow-up, and outbreak response; Provide health education, care coordination, and community-based interventions, including counseling individuals and families, conducting outreach and screenings, coordinating referrals and follow-up.

Basic Requirements For The Gs-11 Grade Level

Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify at this grade 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's degree, bachelor's degree or master's degree from a professional nursing educational program and at least (1) one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-9 grade level) performing the following

duties

Develop individualized care plans; Provide skilled nursing interventions; and evaluate outcomes for individuals and families across community settings; Coordinate public health nursing activities and interventions, including case management, referrals, health education, disease prevention, and collaboration with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.

NOTE: Employees currently assigned to positions in this occupational series as of September 2017 will be considered to have met the basic requirements for the position occupied.

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

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/.

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

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as…