Job Information
Indian Health Service Nurse (Operating Room) in Crow Agency, Montana
Summary This position is located in the Nursing Department in the Crow /Northern Cheyenne Hospital, Crow Agency, MT. This position provides specialized individualized-goal directed nursing care to patients in the OR/PACU/CSR that require adaptation of established nursing procedures through the use of the nursing process. A housing stipend of up to $699.23 without dependents or $830.77 with dependents may be available per pay period. Responsibilities Organizes, coordinates, evaluated and actively participates in surgical services and central sterile supply for the Department of Nursing. Ensures a safe, sterile, and therapeutic environment for pre-operative, intra-operative, and postsurgical nursing and medical intervention for obstetrical, gynecological, ENT, orthopedic, dental, podiatric, urology, and general surgeries. Manages and ensures appropriate distribution, collection of daily supplies. Monitors usage of surgical and CSR equipment and ensures a preventive maintenance program is in place that meets appropriate standards. Troubleshoots and maintains equipment daily. Performs yearly inventory of equipment. Evaluates nursing supplies to determine quantity and quality and makes adjustments for maximum efficiency. Researches and orders specialty (direct issue) supplies and equipment for Inpatient Nursing and OR areas. Collects data and conducts studies as part of a quality assurance program that meets criteria of JCAHO, 1.H.S and AORN. Includes chart reviews and medical surgical case review. Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov) READVERTISEMENT - This position is being re-advertised to solicit additional applications. Applicants who applied previously need not reapply unless submitting updated and/or missing information. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must pass pre-employment examination. Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period U.S. Citizenship is required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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. Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957 and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities. COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty. 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. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/. 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. 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. Note: Employees currently assigned to positions in the Nursing series, 0610 as of September 2017 will be considered to have met the basic requirements for the position occupied. 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 Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education(external link), Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs(external link), Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education(external link), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained. Degree from Foreign Nursing School: Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (external link) is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools. Licensure For all grade levels and positions, applicants must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination(external link). 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. 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 REQUIREMENT(S): Basic Requirements for the GS-9 (or equivalent) Grade Level In addition to the above requirements, applicants must meet one of the following requirements: 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 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. Examples of experience include: Provide care for patients before, during and after surgery or surgical procedures without close supervision; certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS); perform the role of patient educator, or circulating nurse and/or scrub nurse; Assess patients prior to surgery and alleviate their concerns; gather all supplies as needed for the operation; assess patient prior to surgery; keep operating room sterilized; position and prepare patient on operation table; pass medical instruments to surgeon during operation; monitor patient's vital signs to detect anomalies; evaluate patient in postoperative phases; adhere to safety standards and precautions. Basic Requirements for the GS-10 (or equivalent) Grade Level: At least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-9 grade level or above) and possession of a diploma, associate degree, or bachelor's degree in Nursing from a professional nursing program. 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: Examples Include: Independently perform professional nursing duties in the care of surgical patients following extensive and complex surgery or other patients whose critical conditions warrant intensive care; certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS); Observes and assesses patient's clinical condition; recognizes, identify and interpret serious situations and immediately decides proper action, for example, call physician or take preplanned emergency measures; Recognize emergency situations when a physician is not present or immediately available, initiates appropriate measures, for example, takes resuscitative measures in case of cardiac or respiratory arrest; Use specialized equipment such as monitoring ventilator devices, hypothermic units; Record information on patients' chart and maintain accurate records of intake and output; Administers prescribed medication. Act as a preceptor and provide instruction and direction to lower level trainee nurses. Time In Grade 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. Education This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Per IHS policy (SGM 21-04) IHS selectees to positions located in Federally operated hospitals, health centers, and clinics must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entry on duty or have IHS approve a medical or religious exemption. If an exemption is approved then wearing a face mask and regular testing for COVID-19 will be required. Your Human Resources Specialist will provide a list of documents acceptable as vaccination proof and instructions on how to submit your vaccination documentation or how to request a medical or religious exemption, if needed. Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement. Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 6 month service agreement will be required. This position meets the criteria specified in pillar number one of the five pillars of the PHS Commissioned Corps. PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps MUST apply online under the merit promotion announcement indicated above in order to receive consideration. For more information on PHS Commissioned Corps, visit the website at: https://www.usphs.gov/. The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit: For IHS - http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/ For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/ For HRSA Nurse Corps - https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps This position has promotion potential to the GS-10 grade level. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your demonstrated ability to perform the higher level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. Promotion to the next higher grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.