Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner)

About the role

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'll deliver compassionate care where it's needed most. Your expertise brings healing and hope across generations.

Duties

• 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.

Requirements

• 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. The agency must ensure persons hired have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
• IHS Selectees that will work in an IHS health care facility may be subject to Employee Health Policies related to Measles and Rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations. Vaccine exemption requests may be available according to the National and/or Service Unit guidance.
• On-call hours or standby duty may be required.
• Position subject to rotating shifts; days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Shift rotations may vary from 8, 10 and 12-hour shifts.
• Background Investigation Requirement: This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment. Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within 5 calendar days of issuance.

Qualifications

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 and other organizations. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

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 within 9 month(s) of applying may be deemed tentatively qualified. Applicants who have not completed their education requirements must submit documentation from the educational institution's registrar, dean or other appropriate official that attests to the applicable timeframe for completion AND a copy of the most recent unofficial transcript.

Basic Requirement – Education: A graduate or higher-level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. 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. Advanced Practice Nurse Positions: For Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) positions, applicants must possess a graduate or higher-level degree in nursing from an accredited educational program in the area of expertise or specialty indicated by the position.

Basic Requirement – 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. Additional License Requirements for Advanced Practice Nurse Positions: Applicants must be licensed or registered in the clinical specialty required by the position. The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements.

Basic Requirements For The GS-9 (or Equivalent) Grade Level: Applicants who meet the above APN education and licensure requirements qualify for the GS-9. Applicants currently enrolled in a professional nursing program and expect to obtain APN licensure within 9 months.

Basic Requirements For The GS-11 (or Equivalent) Grade Level: In addition to the above APN requirements, applicants must meet one of the following: 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 advanced practice nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-9 grade level).

Basic Requirements for the GS-12 (or equivalent) Grade Level: In addition to the mandatory license and education described above, applicants must have at least one or more full years of professional advanced practice nursing experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

Specialized Experience GS-11: 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; Refers patients to appropriate higher level medical (or other) facilities when needed; Prescribe and monitor medication/therapies.

Specialized Experience GS-12: Perform or request special screening, developmental or laboratory tests and interpret the results; Provide direct medical care in the presence of illness or disability in order to maintain life, reduce distress and enhance coping ability; providing full clinical information for care and diagnostic procedures, facilitating emergent transfer to higher level of care when indicated; Provide emergency services or crisis intervention procedures when indicated; Collaborate with health care professionals to develop treatment protocols, standards of practice and policies.

Education Requirement: 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. 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.

Benefits and incentives

• Recruitment/relocation sign-on bonus may be available, if eligible.
• Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) based on the number of years served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service to determine the rate at which they earn annual leave.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 6 month service agreement will be required.
• 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 are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information visit: http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/