Summary This position is located at the Pine Ridge Service Unit, in the Pediatric Clinic. Performs primary functions of a Registered Nurse in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the care of patients. Is responsible for meeting established Unit Standards of Nursing Practice; manages and delegates to all assigned personnel; manages supplies and equipment on the unit, and promotes teamwork with primary care providers, personnel of other departments and the patient community. Responsibilities Provides direct professional nursing care services to patients in hospitals, clinics, and inpatient clinics. Develops individualized patient care plans or participates in patient care planning which involves the assessment and evaluation of patient needs, a determination of the nursing procedures and practices to be included. Interviews patients and family members and consults with attending physicians, other staff members to determine and evaluate the kind of health and physical care needed. Reviews and interprets findings to distinguish between normal and abnormal conditions. Carries out treatments and emergency or other procedures required; administers medications; observes and documents patients' conditions, changes and reactions to medications and medical treatment. Maintains health records by documenting observations, nursing interventions and therapeutic measures administered. Participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of standards of care, Quality Assurance and Infection Control activities. Maintains professional knowledge and proficiency in nursing through continuing education, staff meetings, workshops and serving on nursing committees. Work is performed on a regularly assigned or rotational basis to provide continuity of patient care during evening, nights, holidays and weekends. When assigned as team leader, provides guidance, direction and training to ancillary nursing and other personnel. Provides counseling and teaching to patients and families or surrogates on preventive, curative and rehabilitative measures involved in health care. Initiates patient referrals when necessary to maintain continuity of patient care. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must pass pre-employment examination. 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 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. 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/. Conditions of Employment: DAY/EVENING/WEEKENDS/HOLIDAYS 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. 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 with 3 month(s) of applying, may be deemed tentatively qualified, BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Nurse Series 0610 (opm.gov) 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 Requirements for the GS-5 (or equivalent) Grade Level To qualify at the GS-5 (or equivalent) grade level, applicants must meet one of the following qualification requirements: Possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing with no experience; or Possession of a diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and one full year of professional nursing experience. Basic Requirements for the GS-7 (or equivalent) Grade Level In addition to the above Basic Requirements, applicants must meet one of the following requirements: 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 (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. 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-5: Possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing with no experience; or Possession of a diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and one full year of professional licensed nursing experience. Specialized Experience GS-7: Provide comprehensive physician care to patients based on the physician's medical care plan to provide the needs of the patient, administer oxygen, IV fluid, blood transfusions and prescribed oral, subcutaneous and intramuscular medications, manage nasal-pharyngeal and gastric suction as well as a variety of other drainage tubes, makes nursing care assignments to various skill levels of professional and non-professional personnel. Competent with pediatric immunization schedule or competent with administering immunizations. Specialized Experience GS-9: Assign and monitor the specific duties of nursing personnel; identify and analyze problems to make well-informed decisions to meet patient care. Provide nursing care, triage patients, interpret data about the patient's status in order to identify the patient care needed; independently plan, schedule and provide comprehensive nursing care in the Pediatrics Department, Participates in problem solving to improve patient care in collaboration with medical staff, nursing personnel, nursing administration. 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). ANNOUNCEMENT IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED - Applications will be reviewed starting on May 30, 2024 and every 10 business days thereafter until filled. 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. 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 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/. This position has promotion potential to the GS-9 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.