Nurse (Community Health)

Indian Health Service • Gallup, NM

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The primary function of this position is to increase access to health care and public health education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and manage a comprehensive school-based health program for pediatric and adolescent patients. The position is primarily stationed at a school-based health clinic within Gallup Indian Medical Center.

The nurse assesses, triages, and manages student health needs; provides preventive, acute, emergency, and chronic-condition care; administers medications and treatments; performs specialized procedures; develops individualized care plans; and coordinates referrals, case management, and continuity of care. The role also includes clinical decision-making, emergency response, telehealth and telephone triage, evidence-based care, accurate documentation, and coordination with providers, specialists, families, schools, and community partners.

The position supports public and community health through community health assessment, outreach, screenings, immunization clinics, health fairs, and physical examinations in collaboration with tribal, state, federal, school, and community organizations. It develops and delivers culturally and linguistically appropriate health education and training for students, families, teachers, school administrators, and community members. Program evaluation and quality improvement duties include collecting and analyzing data, identifying trends and service gaps, developing corrective action plans, presenting findings to leadership and governing bodies, participating in interdisciplinary committees, maintaining regulatory compliance, and pursuing continuous professional development.

The selected individual must obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including required licensure. The position is covered by a bargaining unit; recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, and at least a six-month service agreement will be required if an incentive is accepted.

Requirements

• A graduate or higher degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program.
• Graduates of foreign nursing schools must provide official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
• Must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
• Must possess a current, active, full, unrestricted professional nursing license or registration from a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
• For GS-11, either 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 nursing experience equivalent to GS-9 plus a qualifying nursing diploma or degree.
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9, including expertise in pediatric nursing as a school nurse and providing student nursing care and preventive and therapeutic community care while assessing, planning, and evaluating a school nursing community health program.
• Must obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including licensure requirements.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must complete a federal background investigation and required forms within five calendar days of issuance of instructions.
• Must undergo a financial history review and meet the stated financial suitability requirements.
• Must present two valid forms of identification before appointment; state-issued identification or driver's license must be REAL ID-compliant.
• Must pass the E-Verify employment verification check and set up direct deposit.
• On-call hours or standby duty may be required.
• Selectee may be subject to a probationary period; ESEP appointees typically serve a two-year trial period.
• Federal competitive-service status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements; merit promotion candidates must have completed one year at the next lower grade level.
• Must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
• Applicants must provide sufficient resume detail about experience and education; the resume must identify duties, responsibilities, and hours worked per week.

Responsibilities

• Assess, triage, and manage students’ health needs, including preventive, acute, emergency, and chronic-condition care.
• Administer medications and treatments and perform specialized nursing procedures.
• Develop individualized care plans and coordinate referrals, case management, and continuity of care.
• Recognize changes in patient condition and respond to emergencies using nursing judgment and clinical decision-making.
• Provide telehealth and telephone triage and implement evidence-based standards of care.
• Document services accurately and coordinate care with healthcare providers, specialists, families, schools, and community partners.
• Identify community health needs and hazards and plan and conduct outreach activities.
• Participate in screenings, immunization clinics, health fairs, and physical examinations.
• Collaborate with tribal, state, federal, school, and community organizations.
• Develop and deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate health education and training for students, families, teachers, school administrators, and community members.
• Develop educational materials and programs addressing nutrition, physical fitness, mental health, disease prevention, and other health and wellness needs.
• Evaluate healthcare programs through data collection and analysis, identify trends and service gaps, and develop corrective action plans.
• Present findings to leadership and governing bodies and participate in interdisciplinary committees.
• Maintain regulatory compliance and engage in continuous professional development.

Benefits

• Federal annual leave accrual at a rate of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period, based on federal service.
• Newly appointed federal employees may receive credit for directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty military service when determining annual leave accrual.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, subject to at least a six-month service agreement.
• Potential eligibility for IHS, NHSC, or HRSA student loan repayment programs through a separate competitive process.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree