Clinical Nurse I - Closing Date: 11/5/26

Clinical Nurse Levels I and II

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is a federally recognized Tribe with its ancestral homeland located in Niobrara, NE. The Tribe does not have a reservation in the classic definition; rather, the Ponca Restoration Act defined its jurisdiction as a 'Service Delivery Area' comprised of 15 counties throughout parts of Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Within its Service Delivery Area, the Tribe offers a broad range of health, social, educational and cultural services.

This position is responsible for the daily nursing and administrative functions involving the direct delivery of healthcare across the lifespan in an outpatient setting. Works with clinicians and members of the integrated care team to provide a team-based approach to patient-centered care.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Meets established standards of nursing practice and the primary functions for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the care of patients in the ambulatory care/acute areas;
• Assists in planning, organizing, directing, and managing a comprehensive, effective and efficient outpatient clinical department;
• Provides comprehensive nursing care to patients based on nursing assessment and on the physician's and/or family nurse practitioner's medical plan of care;
• Utilizes the nursing process to identify individual patient problems and to develop, implement, and evaluate patient care;
• Provides nursing care to meet physical, emotional, spiritual, and socio-cultural needs of the patient, by means of direct care and education;
• Observes and assesses patient's clinical condition;
• Recognizes, identifies, and interprets serious situations and immediately decides proper action;
• Operates and monitors specialized equipment such as electrocardiogram, resuscitation equipment, monitoring devices, sterilization equipment, etc.
• Administers therapeutic measures as prescribed by the physician and/or family nurse practitioner such as medications, injections, intravenous fluids, treatment and procedures;
• Ensures that all patients are educated and informed of care rendered and of health care options that are available to them including making referrals and coordinating health service and program activities with other ancillary departments and working closely with the traditional medicine liaison;
• Prepares assignments for and provides guidance and leadership to nursing students of varied skill levels including nursing assistants, practical nurses, registered nurses, and other nursing students;

Accepts professional and administrative responsibilities as team leader;

Is actively involved in orientation of new medical staff to meet the needs of the patients in ambulatory/acute care areas;

Monitors sterilization of equipment and assures proper technique and guidelines are being followed and performs these duties as needed;

Assures that the clinic and acute care areas are adequately stocked with supplies;

Prepares presentations, bids, and listings of new equipment requests and equipment replacement;

Maintains or possesses knowledge of current trends in new equipment and makes every attempt to maintain this trend in the clinical areas;

Assures pharmacy's monthly checks in the clinic refrigerator, nurses' station, exam rooms, and maintains copies of these inventory reports;

Updates ambulatory care and acute care policies and procedures to assure compliance with federal, state, tribal, and accreditation association standards;

Strictly maintains patient confidentiality and privacy and possesses the ability to recognize the need to respect the rights and dignity and privacy of patients;

Presents blood borne pathogens in-service, hepatitis B in-service, and any others as needed;

Participates with on-going quality assurance and infection control program including outcome criteria, protocol, and standards of care development;

Provides triage of incoming patient phone calls and determines the best advice and plan utilizing established protocols as needed;

Contacts patients by phone with notifications from providers;

Committee membership is required; and

Other duties as assigned.

Relationships and Authority:

There are no administrative supervisory requirements or direct reports associated with these positions. Clinical supervision of licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, and certified nursing assistants is done as needed.

Working Environment and Physical Demands:

This position is located within an outpatient medical clinical setting. Works throughout the clinic area. Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during work hours.

Qualifications: Level I:

• Graduate of an associate's degree Registered Nurse (RN) program
• Possess an active, valid state license and have passed the NCLEX-RN
• Introductory ability in electronic health records systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access programs.
• Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Must have valid driver's license and be insurable.
• Must successfully pass drug and alcohol testing, motor vehicle, education, character, and criminal background checks.
• Able and willing to travel.

Preferred:

• One or more years' experience working with Native Americans or Native American organizations.
• Knowledge and understanding of Public Law 93-638: Indian Self-Determination Act.

Level II:

• In addition to Level I above:
• Completion of a 4-year degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Minimum 2 years' experience in active clinical nursing, either inpatient or outpatient

Preference will be given to Ponca Tribe of Nebraska members or members of a federally recognized tribe. However, all qualified individuals are eligible.