License Practical Nurse

About the role

The Indian Health Service (IHS) seeks a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to deliver compassionate care to patients experiencing acute, sub-acute, or chronic health conditions in various settings. As a vital member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, the LPN provides direct, evidence-based nursing care and contributes to the development and revision of the patient-driven, holistic plan of care.

Responsibilities

• Help patients observe, record, and report changes in their physical or emotional condition.
• Administer prescribed medications, monitor for therapeutic and adverse effects, and accurately document patient response.
• Perform basic and intermediate nursing procedures and treatments such as sterile dressing changes, catheter care, bladder scanning, blood glucose monitoring, specimen collection, and wound care.
• Recognize and respond to urgent or emergent situations, initiating basic life support and other emergency measures while awaiting further assistance.
• Assist with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, preparing the patient, assembling supplies and instruments, maintaining aseptic/sterile technique, and monitoring the patient before, during, and after procedures.
• Provide education and reinforcement of teaching to patients and families related to disease processes, treatment regimens, and self-care activities.
• Utilize electronic medical record systems to document care accurately and timely in accordance with facility documentation guidelines.
• Practice infection control and safety procedures, including the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and adherence to isolation precautions.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team conferences, performance improvement initiatives, and discharge planning to support optimal patient outcomes.
• Establish therapeutic and respectful relationships with patients and families that foster trust, privacy, and dignity in care delivery.
• Actively seek opportunities for continuing education and professional development to enhance clinical knowledge and competency.

Requirements

• Must be currently licensed to practice as practical or vocational nurses in a State or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia, or must have applied for a license to practice.
• Experience: 6 months of nursing experience is required for GS-4, and 1 year of nursing experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level is required for GS-5 and above. Specialized experience for GS-4 includes assisting with basic nursing care tasks such as bathing, feeding, dressing, or transporting patients, measuring and recording vital signs, and reporting changes in condition. Specialized experience for GS-5 includes observing, recording, and reporting changes in patients' behavior or physical condition, carrying out nursing procedures in accordance with established guidelines and care plans, taking vital signs, collecting specimens, and maintaining accurate documentation. Specialized experience for GS-6 includes performing a range of treatment procedures such as inserting catheters, administering immunizations, changing sterile dressings, providing wound care, administering medications safely and monitoring for therapeutic or adverse effects, recognizing urgent and emergent situations and initiating appropriate emergency interventions, providing patient and family education on health maintenance, medication use, and disease management, assisting physicians and RNs with complex procedures and specialized diagnostic tests, serving as a preceptor or resource to less experienced staff, and participating in quality improvement and training activities.
• Education: For GS-4, successful completion of a program in practical nursing of at least 9 months' duration combined with 1 year of nursing assistant experience, or successful completion of a 2-year degree program in an accredited community college, junior college, or college or university in practical nursing. For GS-5 and above, 1 year of nursing experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level is required.
• Additional Requirements: Must meet the minimum qualifications stated for each grade level, including completing a background investigation, passing the E-Verify employment verification check, and maintaining any licensure requirements. Positions may require rotating shifts, days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, and on-call hours or standby duty may be required.