Nurse (ICU)

Indian Health Service • Chinle, AZ

3d

About The Position

This position is within the Indian Health Service and provides specialized intensive care nursing to critically ill pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. The nurse is responsible for advanced assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care in collaboration with providers and other health care professionals. The role includes use of critical-care judgment, ICU orders, ACLS protocols, and provider orders to respond to patient needs and changes in condition.

The position requires rotating day, evening, and night shifts, as well as weekend and holiday rotations. Shifts may be 8, 10, or 12 hours, predominantly 12 hours. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, and a service agreement of at least six months is required. A REAL ID-compliant identification document is required when applicable under the stated federal requirements.

The role requires an accredited professional nursing education and an active, unrestricted professional nursing license, along with passing the NCLEX. Grade-level qualification pathways range from GS-7 through GS-11 and combine nursing education with professional nursing experience. Specialized experience may include developing and evaluating patient care plans, responding to emergencies, conducting nursing assessments, using ICU monitoring and life-support equipment, coordinating multidisciplinary care, and providing unit leadership such as charge nurse duties. The position has promotion potential to GS-11, subject to management discretion and applicable requirements.

Requirements

• Graduate or higher-level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an appropriately accredited professional nursing educational program.
• Applicants educated at a foreign nursing school must provide official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
• Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
• Hold a current, active, full, and unrestricted professional nurse license or registration from a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
• Meet the applicable GS grade-level combination of nursing education and professional nursing experience: GS-7, GS-9, or GS-11.
• Demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, as applicable to the position and grade sought.
• Maintain required certifications such as ACLS and BLS.
• Meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Successfully pass E-Verify employment verification and a federal background investigation.
• Complete required background investigation forms within five calendar days of issuance.
• Demonstrate financial responsibility and satisfy legal financial obligations as part of the financial suitability review.
• Provide two valid forms of identification before appointment; any state-issued ID or driver's license used must be REAL ID-compliant.
• Set up direct deposit for payment.
• A service agreement of at least six months is required.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor's degree in nursing with eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement provision may qualify for GS-7.
• Graduate education or higher nursing education may qualify applicants at the stated GS grade levels.
• ICU specialty experience, including experience with invasive monitoring, defibrillators, ventilators, and other monitoring devices, is relevant to the specialized-experience qualifications.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary care, developing plans for critically ill patients, or providing charge nurse leadership is relevant to the stated GS-9 and GS-11 qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Initiate treatment, medications, emergency measures, and resuscitative measures in accordance with standing ICU orders, ACLS protocols, and provider orders.
• Use critical thinking and nursing judgment to recognize changes and characteristics that may affect a patient's health status.
• Administer prescribed therapeutic measures, including medications, intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, nasogastric tubes, internal and external catheters, and wound care.
• Assess critically ill patients by conducting nursing assessments and examinations, interviewing patients and family members, reviewing health histories, and monitoring hemodynamic status.
• Develop and evaluate individualized plans of care based on the patient's condition, health record, needs, and goals.
• Coordinate care with providers and the multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain required certifications, including ACLS and BLS.
• As applicable to grade-level duties, monitor life-support equipment and ICU devices, interpret and document data, escalate abnormal findings, and coordinate or direct patient care and disposition.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families.
• Annual leave accrual of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period, based on federal service; qualifying previous non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service may be credited toward the accrual rate.
• Potential eligibility for student loan repayment programs through IHS, NHSC, or HRSA Nurse Corps, subject to separate program requirements, agency priorities, and funding availability.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized.

What This Job Offers

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