Nurse (Public Health)

Summary

Join the Indian Health Service (IHS) as a Public Health Nurse serving communities in the Navajo Region. Provide comprehensive public health nursing services, including community assessments, preventive care, health education, and quality improvement initiatives. Collaborate with healthcare teams to promote wellness, and improve health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

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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All Grade levels may not be available at all locations.

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

Registered Nurse Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

Nurse (Public Health) Duties

Public Health Nurse GS-0610-07 Duties

Under close supervision, supports community/public health nursing services by assisting higher-level nurses in applying the nursing process to deliver care in home, school, clinic, and community outreach settings. Collects and documents demographic, clinical, and basic epidemiologic information; helps maintain registries (e.g., immunization tracking) and supports routine communicable disease surveillance activities using established tools and protocols. Provides basic health education and prevention messaging using approved materials and reinforces established plans of care, including culturally safe health promotion across the lifespan.

Assists with referrals, follow-up, and documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) and participates in quality improvement and reporting activities in accordance with standing orders, professional standards, and supervisory guidance.

Public Health Nurse GS-0610-09 Duties

With minimal supervision, independently provides comprehensive community/public health nursing services to individuals and families across the lifespan using the nursing process in home, school, clinic, and community settings. Develops, implements, and evaluates individualized and family-centered plans of care, including outreach, screening, immunization follow-up, referral, early intervention, and case management. Participates in population health assessment and communicable disease control by collecting, validating, and documenting data and assisting with case reporting, investigation, contact follow-up, and implementation of control measures in coordination with public health entities.

Coordinates care and transitions with interdisciplinary teams and tribal/community partners, delivers cultural and literacy-appropriate health education, and supports program documentation and quality improvement activities consistent with regulatory and professional standards.

Public Health Nurse GS-0610-11 Duties

Independently plans, prioritizes, and delivers community/public health nursing services to individuals, families, groups, and defined populations, integrating public health principles with clinical practice (e.g., primary prevention, chronic disease management, maternal/child health, and communicable disease prevention/control). Conducts comprehensive population and community assessments by analyzing demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic data to identify trends, priority health issues, high-risk groups, and disparities, and translates findings into targeted prevention and early intervention strategies. Leads or coordinates communicable disease investigations and outbreak response activities and develops, implements, and evaluates community-based health programs in collaboration with public health entities and community/tribal partners.

Serves as a clinical and public health resource through consultation, mentoring, and training, and advances program effectiveness through evaluation, quality improvement, accurate documentation, and adherence to nurse practice acts and public health nursing standards.

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 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.

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/.

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).

Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.

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.

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)

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.

Experience

The work experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. At the GS-9 and above grade level, many positions may require experience in a specialty area of nursing.

Basic Requirements For The GS-7

Possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing and eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement provision; 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); 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.

Basic Requirements for the GS-9

Possession of a master's degree in professional nursing; or At least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-7 grade level or above) and possession of a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree in Nursing from a professional nursing program.

Basic Requirements for the GS-11

Successful completion of a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing educational program or related medical science field; or At least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level) and possession of a diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree from a professional nursing educational program.

In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below-

Minimum Qualifications

Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:

Specialized Experience GS-07

Performing basic nursing care (e.g., screenings, immunizations, routine procedures) within competency and standing orders and promptly escalating abnormal findings to a supervising nurse or provider. Collecting and documenting demographic and clinical data using established tools, registries, and protocols; maintaining accurate records in an electronic health record. Providing basic health education and prevention messaging and reinforcing established care plans, including culturally safe communication.

Supporting care coordination activities by arranging referrals, scheduling follow-up, and connecting clients to services that address medical and social drivers of health. Supporting communicable disease surveillance and control activities (e.g., routine case reporting, tracking, and follow-up documentation) under supervisory guidance.

Specialized Experience GS-09

Developing, implementing, and evaluating individualized and family-centered plans of care in community settings (e.g., home, school, clinic), including care coordination and case management. Providing skilled nursing interventions (e.g., immunizations/medications/treatments as authorized), monitoring patient response, documenting outcomes, and communicating significant findings to providers. Participating in communicable disease investigations and control activities, including case reporting, interviews, contact follow-up, and implementation of control measures in coordination with public health entities.

Collecting and documenting data to support surveillance and community health assessment activities. Delivering culturally appropriate, literacy- and language-tailored health education and prevention interventions across the lifespan. Contributing to performance improvement quality assurance activities.

Specialized Experience GS-11

Conducting population health…