Nurse (Pediatrics In-Patient Unit)

Indian Health Service • Gallup, NM

16h • Onsite

About The Position

The position is in the Inpatient Pediatric Unit within the Division of Nursing at Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, New Mexico. The Nurse serves as a professional Registered Nurse providing comprehensive inpatient pediatric and medical-surgical nursing care to adult and pediatric patients with acute, chronic, pre-operative, and post-operative conditions. Care is to be culturally and age appropriate and patient centered.

The Nurse uses professional nursing judgment and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care; coordinates interdisciplinary services; provides direct bedside care; and documents care in the electronic health record. The role may require on-call or standby duty, rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays according to patient-care needs. A REAL ID-compliant identification document will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021), if presenting a state-issued ID or driver's license.

The position is covered by a bargaining unit and has promotion potential to GS-11; promotion is not guaranteed and is at management's discretion. Selectees must obtain and maintain required medical staff clinical privileges and comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy, subject to any available exemption process.

Requirements

• Graduate from an accredited professional nursing educational program with a graduate-level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma.
• Pass 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.
• For foreign nursing school graduates, provide official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
• Meet the GS-09 pathway: a master's degree in professional nursing, or at least one full year of professional nursing experience equivalent to GS-7 or above plus a nursing diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree.
• For the GS-09 specialized-experience pathway, demonstrate professional pediatric nursing experience involving assessment, diagnosis, care planning, implementation, and evaluation; knowledge of pharmaceuticals and their effects and complications; recognition and response to adverse signs and emergencies, including life-saving procedures; patient counseling and health instruction; and identification of disease entities, complications, and therapeutic interventions.
• Meet the GS-11 pathway: a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in professional nursing or a related medical science field, or at least one full year of professional nursing experience equivalent to GS-9 plus a nursing diploma, associate, bachelor's, or master's degree.
• For the GS-11 specialized-experience pathway, demonstrate experience managing highly complex, high-risk, or unstable patients; providing clinical leadership and guidance to nursing staff; leading or coordinating quality improvement, patient safety, or evidence-based practice initiatives; contributing to nursing policies, procedures, or clinical practice guidelines; and collaborating on system-level patient-care, staffing, or resource issues.
• Meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the announcement's closing date.
• U.S. citizenship is required; Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Successfully pass E-Verify and a federal background investigation, including a financial history review, as conditions of employment.
• Complete required background investigation forms within five calendar days of issuance and arrange direct deposit.
• Present two valid forms of identification before appointment; a state-issued ID or driver's license must be REAL ID-compliant.
• Comply with IHS immunization policy requirements applicable to healthcare facility work, subject to any available exemption process.
• Obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges and any required licensure.
• The position may require on-call or standby duty, rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays.

Nice To Haves

• Applicants currently enrolled and expected to complete the required education and obtain required licensure, certification, or registration within nine months of applying may be considered tentatively qualified under an available flexibility.
• Applicants are encouraged to submit unofficial transcripts or a course list with titles, credit hours, and grades; official transcripts are required from selectees before an official offer.

Responsibilities

• Apply professional nursing judgment and evidence-based practice to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care.
• Coordinate interdisciplinary services and provide culturally and age-appropriate, patient-centered care.
• Conduct comprehensive and ongoing assessments to identify actual and potential health problems.
• Develop and modify individualized nursing plans based on patient assessments, provider orders, and responses to therapy.
• Provide direct bedside care for a range of medical and surgical diagnoses, including pre-operative and post-operative management.
• Administer medications, IV fluids, blood products, and treatments according to provider orders and nursing protocols.
• Monitor patient status, recognize clinical changes, and initiate appropriate nursing interventions, including emergency measures.
• Use critical thinking and prioritization to manage multiple patients with varying acuity levels.
• Collaborate with physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, therapists, social workers, and other staff to coordinate care.
• Participate in interdisciplinary rounds and contribute nursing assessments and recommendations to treatment planning.
• Accurately document assessments, interventions, and outcomes in the electronic health record.
• Communicate changes in condition and critical information using standardized reporting tools.
• Ensure documentation meets professional, legal, and regulatory requirements; correct documentation deficiencies within established timeframes.
• Participate in quality improvement efforts related to electronic health record accuracy and completeness.
• Obtain and maintain required medical staff clinical privileges and licensure requirements.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for the employee and family; details depend on position type.
• Annual leave accrual of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period, based on federal service.
• IHS may credit directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual.
• Potential eligibility for IHS, NHSC, or HRSA loan repayment programs, subject to separate program criteria, agency priorities, and available funding.

What This Job Offers

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