Public Health Nurse

Summary At the Indian Health Service (IHS), nurses do more than practice medicine—they change lives. Guided by our mission to raise the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you will deliver compassionate care where it is needed most. Duties Public Health Nurse GS-0610-07 Duties Under close supervision, supports community/public health nursing services by assisting higher-level nurses in applying the nursing process to deliver care in home, school, clinic, and community outreach settings. Collects and documents demographic, clinical, and basic epidemiologic information; helps maintain registries (e.g., immunization tracking) and supports routine communicable disease surveillance activities using established tools and protocols. Provides basic health education and prevention messaging using approved materials and reinforces established plans of care, including culturally safe health promotion across the lifespan. Assists with referrals, follow-up, and documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) and participates in quality improvement and reporting activities in accordance with standing orders, professional standards, and supervisory guidance. Public Health Nurse GS-0610-09 Duties With minimal supervision, independently provides comprehensive community/public health nursing services to individuals and families across the lifespan using the nursing process in home, school, clinic, and community settings. Develops, implements, and evaluates individualized and family-centered plans of care, including outreach, screening, immunization follow-up, referral, early intervention, and case management. Participates in population health assessment and communicable disease control by collecting, validating, and documenting data and assisting with case reporting, investigation, contact follow-up, and implementation of control measures in coordination with public health entities. Coordinates care and transitions with interdisciplinary teams and tribal/community partners, delivers cultural and literacy-appropriate health education, and supports program documentation and quality improvement activities consistent with regulatory and professional standards. Public Health Nurse GS-0610-11 Duties Independently plans, prioritizes, and delivers community/public health nursing services to individuals, families, groups, and defined populations, integrating public health principles with clinical practice (e.g., primary prevention, chronic disease management, maternal/child health, and communicable disease prevention/control). Conducts comprehensive population and community assessments by analyzing demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic data to identify trends, priority health issues, high-risk groups, and disparities, and translates findings into targeted prevention and early intervention strategies. Leads or coordinates communicable disease investigations and outbreak response activities and develops, implements, and evaluates community-based health programs in collaboration with public health entities and community/tribal partners. Serves as a clinical and public health resource through consultation, mentoring, and training, and advances program effectiveness through evaluation, quality improvement, accurate documentation, and adherence to nurse practice acts and public health nursing standards. Conditions of Employment Selectee may be subject to a trial or probationary period. U.S. citizenship is required. Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you. Position subject to rotating shifts; days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Shift rotations may vary from 8-, 10- and 12-hour shifts. On-call hours or standby duty may be required. Background Investigation This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment. A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service. Applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability. Applicants are encouraged to prioritize this requirement and maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the 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. 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. Degree and License Waiting Period for Impending Graduates Applicants who are currently enrolled and expected to complete the required education and obtain the required licensure/certification/registration within 6 months of applying may be deemed tentatively qualified. Applicants who have not completed their education requirements (but are within the established timeframe for qualifying) must submit: Documentation from the educational institution's registrar, dean or other appropriate official that attests to the applicable timeframe for completion of the professional program/coursework AND A copy of the most recent unofficial transcript.

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. For foreign graduates, official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is required. Licensure All candidates must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination. Applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or U.S. territory. Experience The work experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. At the GS-9 and above grade level, many positions may require experience in a specialty area of nursing. Basic Requirements For The GS-7 Possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing and eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement provision; Possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing and at least ONE full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-5 grade level); Possession of a diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and TWO full years of professional nursing experience; or Completion of at least one full year of graduate education in a professional nursing educational program. Basic Requirements For The GS-9 Possession of a master's degree in professional nursing; or At least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-7 grade level or above) and possession of a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree in Nursing from a professional nursing program. Basic Requirements for the GS-11 Successful completion of 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 the GS-09 grade level) and possession of a diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree from a professional nursing educational program. 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-07 Performing basic nursing care (e.g., screenings, immunizations, routine procedures) within competency and standing orders and promptly escalating abnormal findings to a supervising nurse or provider. Collecting and documenting demographic and clinical data using established tools, registries, and protocols; maintaining accurate records in an electronic health record. Providing basic health education and prevention messaging and reinforcing established care plans, including culturally safe communication. Supporting care coordination activities by arranging referrals, scheduling follow-up, and connecting clients to services that address medical and social drivers of health. Supporting communicable disease surveillance and control activities (e.g., routine case reporting, tracking, and follow-up documentation) under supervisory guidance. Specialized Experience GS-09 Developing, implementing, and evaluating individualized and family-centered plans of care in community settings (e.g., home, school, clinic), including care coordination and case management. Providing skilled nursing interventions (e.g., immunizations/medications/treatments as authorized), monitoring patient response, documenting outcomes, and communicating significant findings to providers. Participating in communicable disease investigations and control activities, including case reporting, interviews, contact follow-up, and implementation of control measures in coordination with public health entities. Collecting and documenting data to support surveillance and community health assessment activities. Delivering culturally appropriate, literacy- and language-tailored health education and prevention interventions across the lifespan. Contributing to performance improvement quality assurance activities. Specialized Experience GS-11 Conducting population health assessments and analyzing data to identify priority health issues, vulnerable populations, and health disparities. Performing complex case management and care coordination for individuals/families (e.g., acute conditions, chronic disease, communicable disease cases) across care settings and community resources. Tailoring health promotion and disease prevention interventions and strategies to include literacy, language, culture, social, and community factors. Independently providing skilled nursing interventions (e.g., immunizations/medications/treatments as authorized), monitoring patient response, documenting outcomes, and communicating significant findings to providers. Serving as a clinical and public health resource to staff through mentoring, training, and leading performance improvement and quality assurance activities. Leading or coordinating communicable disease investigations and outbreak response (case interviews, contact identification, reporting, and follow-up) in collaboration with public health entities, and implementing control measures within scope. Financial Suitability Requirement The position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying. A candidates with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations (including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears) may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS). Benefits Eligible for recruitment/relocation sign-on bonus (subject to eligibility). Benefits include health, dental, vision, and retirement plans. Participation in loan repayment programs may be available through the Indian Health Service, National Health Service Corps, and Health Resources and Services Administration. Promotion potential to the next grade level may be available at certain locations, depending on performance and management discretion. Additional Information Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate based on the number of years served as a Federal employee. Position may be covered by a Bargaining Unit. #J-18808-Ljbffr Indian Health Service