Summary
The purpose of the Nurse (ER) position is to provide professional emergency room nursing care to patients in a general hospital and ambulatory care setting. There may not be immediate vacancies at all locations. This position requires licensure as a registered nurse and experience as stated in OPM regulations. Incumbent is required to work rotational shifts, night, days, weekends, and holidays. The incumbent reports directly to the ER Nurse Supervisor.
Duties
Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job:
These positions will be located within the Great Plains Area / Indian Health Service. There MAY NOT be immediate vacancies at all locations. Interested applicants should check with the local Administrative Office concerning immediate employment needs. The purpose of this position is to provide comprehensive care to pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients within the Great Plains Area:
Duties:
- Perform specialized, professional nursing duties in the case of critically ill, severely injured and/or traumatized emergency patients. Assess and triage.
- Administers medications utilized in the emergency room setting and observe patients for adverse and expected efforts and respond appropriately or notifies physician. Interpret data obtained from observation, examination and monitoring.
- Operate and monitor specialized equipment. Provide supervision and training to ambulance service and assist with certification requirements.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
Maintaining certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
Adherence to the IHS Employee Immunization Policy, SGM 21-04, and the IHS Circular 2016-04 requiring Measles and Rubella, COVID-19, and seasonal influenza immunizations for staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities OR an exemption request will need to be submitted.
The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service.
On-call hours or standby duty may be required.
Conditions of employment: Days/Nights/Weekends/Holidays
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit .
You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.The Hiring Manager/Selecting Official may elect to utilize an available flexibility wherein applicants who are currently enrolled and expected to complete the required education and obtain the required licensure/certification/registration within up to 9 month(s) of applying, may be deemed tentatively qualified.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
Education
A graduate or higher level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. This education must have been accredited by the , , , or an accrediting body recognized by the at the time the degree was obtained.
Degree from Foreign Nursing School: Official certification from the is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools.
Licensure
For all grade levels and positions, applicants must have passed the . In addition, they must 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.
In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:
Specialized Experience GS-09: Provides professional nursing care principles, practices and procedures required to assess needs of patients; knowledge of pharmaceuticals, their desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use; recognizing adverse signs and symptoms which are not always apparent and to react promptly in emergency situations initiating the implementation of life saving measures; providing counseling, guidance and health instruction to patients; and identifies disease entities in order to recognize complications and therapeutic nursing interventions required. Provide triage using the Emergency Severity Index system. Use specialized equipment such as cardiac monitoring devices, ventilator devices, hypothermic units; Record information on patients' chart and maintain accurate records of intake and output and administers prescribed medication.
Specialized Experience GS-10: Independently perform professional nursing duties in the care of emergency department patients following extensive and complex trauma or other patients whose critical conditions warrant immediate care. Independently performs Triage using Emergency Severity Index system and assesses patient's clinical condition. Recognizes, identifies, and interprets serious situations and immediately decides proper action implementing standing protocols based upon the physical condition of the patient. Recognize emergency situations when a physician is not present or immediately available, initiates appropriate lifesaving measures, for example, takes resuscitative measure in case of cardiac or respiratory arrest. Use specialized equipment such as cardiac monitoring devices, ventilator devices, hypothermic units; Record information on patients' chart and maintain accurate records of intake and output and administers prescribed medication. Oversee the Emergency Department as a shift charge nurse, and perform as preceptor providing instruction and mentoring to lower level trainee nurses.
Time In Grade (Merit Promotion Candidates Only) Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
This position will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and Veterans' Preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants.
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.
This position will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and Veterans' Preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see . Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements. To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must substantively exceed the basic qualifications and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and any other requirements.
Click here to view vacancy questions: . All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 12/31/2025, to be considered.
Required Documents
Resume: You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed, annual salary, and description of job duties. Include name and address of employer; supervisor name and telephone number.
Required as applicable for the purposes of specific eligibility and appointment claim(s), and position requirements:
Indian Preference Applicants: If claiming Indian preference, applicants must provide a completed copy of the Form BIA-4432, "Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Only." Indian preference will not be given unless a properly signed and dated form is submitted with your application, including any verification by an authorized Tribal Representative or BIA Official of tribal enrollment records. For detailed instructions, see form BIA-4432. Refer to BIA-4432 link: . When an Indian Preference candidate possesses Veterans preference the rules regarding Veterans preference apply under ESEP and the applicant must provide documentation in order to receive preference.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: .
Transcripts: You are encouraged to submit copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) although not required at the time of application. You must list your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Official transcripts will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
Licensure, Certifications: Applicants should list their license/certifications on their resume, along with the expiration date, if applicable. Certification of licensure/certification will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 12/31/2025
The first Cut-off date for receipt/referral of applications to be considered for available vacant positions will be 10 days after the JOA open date.
Your resume and any documents submitted will be retained for three months and may be used at any time during this period. After 8 months, you must reapply to this announcement in order to be considered.
