Nurse (Outpatient)

About the role

At the Indian Health Service (IHS), Nurses do more than practice medicine—they change lives. Guided by the 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

• Provide comprehensive, evidence‑based, patient‑centered nursing care to individuals and families in an ambulatory care setting.
• Demonstrate professional competence, leadership, and sound clinical judgment while delivering high‑quality care to patients with a wide range of acute and chronic conditions.
• Provide oversight and direction to licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants, as appropriate to the clinic setting.
• Actively contribute to care coordination, health promotion, education, and quality improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Probationary period may apply.
• Position is advertised under Direct Hire Authority; selections are processed as new civil service appointments.
• Designated position 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.
• May be subject to Employee Health Policies related to measles, rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations (exemption requests possible per guidance).
• Must obtain and maintain any required licensure.
• On‑call hours or standby duty may be required.
• Must successfully pass E‑Verify employment verification.
• Position subject to rotating shifts (days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays); shift rotations may vary from 8‑, 10‑, and 12‑hour shifts.
• Must set up direct deposit for pay.
• Requires successful completion of a federal background investigation; forms must be completed within five calendar days of receipt.
• Financial suitability review required: demonstrate financial responsibility, good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations.

Qualifications

• Education: A graduate or higher level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing program is required (accredited by CCNE, COA, ACME, or a U.S. Department of Education‑recognized body). Foreign nursing school graduates must provide official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
• Licensure: Must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a U.S. state, DC, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
• Experience: Must have experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties.
• Basic requirements for GS‑5: Bachelor’s degree in Nursing with no experience; or diploma/associate degree in professional nursing plus one full year of professional nursing experience.
• Basic requirements for GS‑7: Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and eligibility under Superior Academic Achievement; or bachelor’s degree plus one year of professional nursing experience; or diploma/associate degree plus two years of professional nursing experience; or completion of at least one full year of graduate education in a professional nursing program.
• Basic requirements for GS‑9: Master’s degree in professional nursing; or at least one year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to GS‑7 or above) plus a diploma, associate, or bachelor’s degree in Nursing from a professional nursing program.
• Minimum Qualifications (specialized experience):
  GS‑07: Performing outpatient nursing duties including triage, patient assessment, implementing provider/clinic standing orders, administering medications/treatments, observing/documenting patient responses, coordinating care activities, counseling/teaching patients within protocols.
  GS‑09: Implementing standardized disease management/prevention guidelines, conducting comprehensive assessments, developing plans of care per clinical practice guidelines, monitoring patients, communicating clinical changes, coordinating referrals/consults, providing patient/family counseling on preventive/curative/rehabilitative measures, ensuring accurate EHR documentation, administering medications/treatments, recognizing adverse signs, initiating interventions, evaluating outcomes, providing guidance/training/mentoring to staff, supporting orientation and clinical flow coordination.
• All qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
• Education documentation: Submit transcripts or a list of courses (titles, credit hours, grades). Unofficial transcripts accepted in the application package; official transcripts required from selectees before an official offer. Foreign education must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
• Financial Suitability Requirement (see Requirements): Demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying.

Schedule

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