Advanced Practice Nurse (Psychiatric)

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. Begin your journey with purpose—and receive a recruitment/relocation sign‑on bonus, if eligible. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive psychiatric evaluations across the lifespan by obtaining and synthesizing biopsychosocial histories, mental status and physical findings, and diagnostic information; applies the current DSM to diagnose acute, chronic, and complex psychiatric and substance use disorders.
• Prescribes and manages psychotropic medications and other psychiatric treatments; orders and interprets clinically indicated laboratory and diagnostic studies; monitors therapeutic response, adverse effects, and medication safety, and modifies treatment based on findings.
• Assesses and manages psychiatric emergencies and high‑risk presentations, including suicidal or self‑harm risk, behavioral instability, and substance‑related crises; determines appropriate level of care and coordinates admission, discharge, transfer, or referral to higher‑acuity psychiatric services.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates individualized, evidence‑based and culturally responsive psychiatric treatment plans for patients with psychiatric disorders and co‑occurring medical or psychosocial conditions, including psychotherapy when within scope of practice and certification.
• Provides psychiatric consultation and subject‑matter expertise to physicians, advanced practice providers, and interdisciplinary teams regarding complex psychiatric cases, psychopharmacology, clinical protocols, and continuity and coordination of behavioral health care.
• Maintains accurate and compliant psychiatric documentation and participates in behavioral health program evaluation, quality and performance improvement, patient and family education, and adherence to applicable accreditation, regulatory, and clinical practice standards.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• This is a competitive vacancy advertised under Direct Hire Authority; selections will be processed as new appointments to the civil service.
• Position is covered by Public Law 101‑630 requiring contact or control over Indian children; applicants must not have been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere to certain crimes.
• IHS Selectees working in an IHS health care facility may be subject to Employee Health Policies related to measles, rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations (exemption requests may be available per National/Service Unit guidance).
• On‑call hours or standby duty may be required.
• Must successfully pass the E‑Verify employment verification check.
• Position subject to rotating shifts; days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays; shift rotations may vary from 8, 10, and 12‑hour shifts.
• Must set up direct deposit for payment.
• Requires successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.
• Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility as part of the personnel security and suitability determination.

Qualifications

• Education: A graduate or higher‑level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. Accreditation must be by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or a U.S. Department of Education‑recognized accrediting body.
• 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: Must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination and 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 U.S. territory.
• Additional License Requirements for Advanced Practice Nurse Positions: Must be licensed or registered by a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory in the clinical specialty required by the position (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner).
• Must obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements; failure to do so may result in adverse actions up to removal from Federal service.
• Basic Requirements for GS‑9 (or equivalent): Meet the above APN education and licensure requirements; applicants currently enrolled in a professional nursing program expecting APN licensure within 9 months may be considered.
• Basic Requirements for GS‑11 (or equivalent): In addition to APN requirements, either a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing or related medical science program, OR at least one full year of professional advanced practice nursing experience equivalent to the GS‑9 level.
• Basic Requirements for GS‑12 (or equivalent): In addition to APN requirements, at least one or more full years of professional advanced practice nursing experience equivalent to the GS‑11 level, plus the Minimum Qualifications described below.
• Minimum Qualifications (specialized experience):
  • GS‑11: At least one year of specialized experience performing psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, including prescribing and managing psychotropic medications, developing and modifying treatment plans, evaluating treatment response, exercising independent professional judgment within clinical guidelines, and adapting treatment to individual patient needs; includes consulting or referring highly complex, high‑risk, or acute psychiatric situations when clinically indicated.
  • GS‑12: Independently evaluates, diagnoses, and treats acute, chronic, complex, and high‑risk psychiatric and substance use disorders; makes independent decisions regarding psychotropic treatment, diagnostic testing, level of care, admission/discharge, and referral; interprets and adapts clinical guidelines when they do not fully address the patient situation; provides psychiatric consultation or subject‑matter expertise to interdisciplinary teams, seeking physician or supervisory consultation primarily for the most acute or exceptional clinical circumstances.
• Education documentation: Strongly encouraged to submit transcripts or a list of courses with titles, credit hours, and grades; unofficial transcripts accepted in the application package; official transcripts required prior to an official offer.

Benefits

• Recruitment/relocation sign‑on bonus (if eligible).
• Access to the Indian Health Service total compensation package (see link: Nurse Practitioner Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)).

Schedule

• Position subject to rotating shifts; days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Shift rotations may vary from 8, 10, and 12‑hour shifts.