Lead Nurse

About the role

This position is located at Kayenta Service Unit, Nursing Services, Emergency Department, Kayenta, AZ. The primary purpose of this position is to direct and manage Emergency Department patient care operations, provide clinical leadership to nursing staff, ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and continuous emergency nursing services, and coordinate clinical, administrative, and logistical functions.

Responsibilities

• Directs and manages Emergency Department operations and personnel, including assigning, coordinating, and evaluating the work of nursing and support staff to ensure safe, effective, and timely patient care.

• Provides advanced emergency nursing care and clinical leadership by assessing critically ill or injured patients, initiating emergency interventions, coordinating care, and supporting staff in managing complex patient situations.

• Ensures compliance with nursing standards, regulatory requirements, and performance improvement initiatives by supporting accreditation activities, reviewing policies and procedures, evaluating outcomes, and implementing quality improvement processes.

• Captivates patient care services and interdisciplinary collaboration by facilitating patient transfers, communicating with healthcare providers and support departments, promoting continuity of care, and serving as a patient advocate.

• Provides supervisory support and staff development by mentoring nursing personnel, conducting meetings, promoting education and competency development, addressing performance concerns, and acting as the Supervisory Nurse/Unit Supervisor in their absence.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit.

• On-call hours or standby duty may be required. This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children.

• 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.

• 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. 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

• 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.

• 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.

• Specialized Experience: Include Progressive experience in emergency or acute care nursing that demonstrates the ability to independently assess and manage critically ill or injured patients; coordinate emergency patient care activities; provide clinical leadership and guidance to nursing staff; apply emergency nursing standards and practices; and support quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and multidisciplinary healthcare operations.