School Health Nurse

This position is located in various Chinle Service Unit locations at a school-based health clinic. The incumbent provides year-round health care and public health education to students, care coordination, advocates for quality student-centered care, and manages a comprehensive school-based health program for pediatric and adolescent patients. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

About the Role

This is a term position not to exceed 2 years. The incumbent reports to the Supervisory Public Health Nurse and may be required to work evening, after-work, or weekend shifts. The role involves considerable walking, standing, bending, and lifting in schools, clinics, homes, and offices, as well as the movement of patients, equipment, and supplies. The position is designated under Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children.

The incumbent is required to drive a government vehicle and must maintain a valid State driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive nursing care to pediatric and adolescent students, including health assessments, triage, preventive and acute care, chronic-condition management, medication administration, emergency care, and individualized care planning.
• Coordinates student health services and continuity of care by collaborating with families, school personnel, healthcare providers, specialists, and community resources to facilitate referrals, case management, and culturally competent care.
• Conducts community outreach and preventive health activities through health fairs, screenings, sports physicals, immunization clinics, community assessments, and partnerships with tribal, state, federal, school, and community organizations.
• Develops and delivers public health education for students, families, teachers, administrators, and parents on nutrition, physical fitness, mental health, disease prevention, wellness, and other identified community health needs.
• Evaluates and improves school health programs by analyzing student health outcomes, identifying trends, implementing corrective actions, participating in interdisciplinary quality-improvement efforts, and supporting school safety and regulatory compliance.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. Learn more at www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.
• Direct deposit is required for payment.
• Successful completion of a federal background investigation is required as a condition of employment. Applicants must complete all required forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance.
• Financial suitability review is required. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility and maintain good standing with creditors. Substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations may disqualify candidates.
• Prior to appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one is a state-issued ID or driver’s license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education to perform the duties of the specific position. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps).

Basic Requirements

• A graduate or higher-level degree, bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. The program must be 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.
• For degrees from foreign nursing schools, official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is required.
• 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.

Minimum Qualifications

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, performing professional nursing duties in a school, pediatric/adolescent, community health, public health, or comparable healthcare setting. Specialized experience includes:

• Assessing and evaluating patient health needs and providing preventive, acute, and chronic-condition nursing care.
• Performing triage and developing individualized plans of care.
• Coordinating care, referrals, and case management with families, healthcare providers, schools, and community resources.
• Planning or conducting health screenings, outreach activities, and public health education.
• Evaluating health services or patient outcomes to identify trends and implement improvements in the delivery of care.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Education Verification

Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Verify accreditation at www.ed.gov/accreditation.

If using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript. Visit sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications for more information.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.

• Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period) based on years of Federal service.
• Newly-appointed Federal employees may receive credit for directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service, which can determine the rate at which they earn annual leave.
• This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, requiring at least a 6-month service agreement.
• Student loan repayment programs may be available through the Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for qualifying health disciplines. Opportunities are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. Learn more at:
  • IHS Loan Repayment
  • NHSC Loan Repayment
  • HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment