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

• 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 advertisement under Direct Hire Authority; selections will be processed as new appointments to the civil service (current civil service employees receive new appointments but retain benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements).
• Designated position covered by Public Law 101‑630 requiring contact or control over Indian children; the agency must ensure that persons hired have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
• IHS Selectees who 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 National and/or Service Unit guidance.
• On‑call hours or standby duty may be required.
• 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.
• You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
• Background Investigation Requirement: successful completion of a federal background investigation is a condition of employment. Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within 5 calendar days of issuance; timely completion is critical to avoid delays or a determination of unsuitability.
• Financial Suitability Requirement: a review of the applicant's financial history is part of the personnel security and suitability determination; applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility.

Qualifications

• To qualify, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education to perform the duties of the specific position. Experience includes paid and unpaid work, volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations; you must clearly identify duties and responsibilities and the total hours per week for each position.
• Degree and License Waiting Period for Impending Graduates: the Hiring Manager may consider applicants who are currently enrolled and expected to complete required education and obtain licensure/certification/registration within 9 months of applying as tentatively qualified; such applicants must submit documentation from the educational institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official attesting to the applicable timeframe for completion 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. Accreditation must be 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.
• Advanced Practice Nurse 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 (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner).
• Licensure: for all grade levels and positions, applicants 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 territory of the United States.
• Additional License Requirements for Advanced Practice Nurse Positions: applicants must be licensed or registered by a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States in the clinical specialty required by the position (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner).
• The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements; failure to obtain or maintain privileges may result in adverse actions up to removal from Federal service.
• 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 expecting to obtain APN licensure within 9 months also qualify.
• Basic Requirements for the GS‑11 (or Equivalent) Grade Level: in addition to the 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, applicants must have at least one or more full years of professional advanced practice nursing experience equivalent to the GS‑11 grade level.
• Minimum Qualifications – Specialized Experience:
  • GS‑11: 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, and exercising independent professional judgment within established clinical guidelines and scope of practice; experience includes adapting treatment approaches