Nurse (ER)

Indian Health Service • Red Mesa, AZ

7d

About The Position

The Nurse (ER) provides comprehensive care to pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients in an Indian Health Service Emergency Department. The role includes assessing, planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating skilled patient care in accordance with nursing standards and evidence-based practice. The nurse supervises and guides other professional and non-professional nursing staff, collaborates with physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers on coordinated care plans, and uses critical thinking to make complex clinical decisions and respond to rapidly changing patient conditions.

At the GS-11 level, the position functions as a senior clinical expert in emergency nursing, managing care for patients with highly complex, high-risk, or unstable conditions. It provides clinical leadership and guidance to nursing staff, supports quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, participates in developing and implementing nursing policies and clinical practice guidelines, and ensures compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and professional nursing standards. The position may require on-call or standby duty and rotating shifts, including days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays; rotations may include 8-, 10-, or 12-hour shifts.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must obtain and maintain required nursing licensure.
• Must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination and 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.
• Must meet the GS-11 basic education/experience requirement: 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-09 and a diploma, associate, bachelor's, or master's degree from a professional nursing educational program.
• Must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower Federal grade level in emergency nursing, including senior clinical work with complex, high-risk, or unstable patients; clinical leadership; quality improvement or patient safety initiatives; policy or guideline work; and compliance with professional and regulatory standards.
• A degree or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required.
• Graduates of foreign nursing schools must provide official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must complete a federal background investigation and submit required forms within five calendar days of issuance.
• Must meet the financial suitability requirement, including demonstrating financial responsibility and satisfying legal financial obligations.
• Must set up direct deposit.
• A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).
• May be subject to a probationary period.
• May be required to complete a background review related to contact or control over Indian children under Public Law 101-630.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate skilled patient care in accordance with nursing standards and evidence-based practice.
• Provide comprehensive emergency care to pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.
• Supervise nursing care delivered by professional and non-professional staff, providing guidance, evaluation, and feedback.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers to develop and implement coordinated care plans.
• Use critical thinking to make complex clinical decisions and respond effectively to rapidly changing patient conditions.
• Manage care for patients with highly complex, high-risk, or unstable conditions.
• Provide clinical leadership and guidance to nursing staff as a subject matter expert in emergency practice, policies, and procedures.
• Lead or coordinate unit-level quality improvement, patient safety, or evidence-based practice initiatives.
• Participate in developing, reviewing, and implementing nursing policies, procedures, and clinical practice guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and professional nursing standards.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package.
• Annual leave accrual of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period, depending on years of Federal service.
• Newly appointed Federal employees may receive credit for directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for eligible candidates; a service agreement of at least six months is required.
• Potential eligibility to apply separately for student loan repayment programs through IHS, NHSC, or HRSA Nurse Corps.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree