Nurse - ICU, Special Care Unit
Indian Health Service
Summary This position is located at one of the various Indian Health Service Hospitals or Clinics under the Navajo Area Office. The primary purpose is to provide the requirements of the full range of professional nursing proficiency in Intensive Care Units (ICU) at the Hospitals and/or clinics. Consults with physician on medical problems not covered by the protocols of care or within scope of training and capability. Responsibilities Provides moderately difficult professional nursing care to all critically ill patients. Provides continual assessment and observation through physical assessments and examination. Interviews patients and family members as appropriate, reviews health history, and accurately monitors and records hemodynamic parameters. Independently assesses patient's condition, and recognizes normal/abnormal parameters. Initiates resuscitative and life-saving measures: diagnostics, treatments, and medications based on approved Unit Standing Orders, Unit Standard of Care from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) and any other professional organizations, American Heart Association (AHA). In the absence of a physician, the nurse independently determines and implements proper emergency measures after identifying and interpreting life-threatening conditions and initiating life-saving measures in accordance with practices under the American Heart Association guidelines for the provision of Basic Life Support (BLS) and ACLS. Administers therapeutic interventions, such as medications, treatments, intravenous fluids, blood product transfusions, oral/nasogastric tubes, and other diagnostic interventions, etc., using independent judgment, critical thinking, and decision-making skills (as appropriate) as based on physician orders. Documents and charts in the patient's health records any observations, assessments, nursing interventions, therapeutic measures administered, and referrals to ancillary staff for follow-up care. Serves as Unit Charge Nurse attending to daily operations and communicates concerns to the Supervisory Nurse as appropriate. Orients new staff to the department and the routine functions of the Unit. Provides in-services to other nursing staff within the hospital as appropriate. 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 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. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Note: Employees currently assigned to positions in this occupational series 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, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Licensure: For all grade levels and positions, applicants must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination. 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. GS 09: 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 Professional Nursing Experience to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Provide professional nursing duties according to established professional nursing principles, practices, and procedures in an ICU setting, provides pre-operative and post-operative nursing care to patients, operating specialized equipment such as resuscitators, mechanical ventilation, thermodilution catheters, swan-ganz and central lines, cardiac monitoring systems, multiples fluid infusion system, etc.; recognize, identify and interprets serious situation and immediately decides proper intervention according to standing orders, initiates appropriate measures, i.e. resuscitation; operates and monitors specialized equipment; document observations, nursing interventions taken and emergency measures administered. GS 10: In addition to the mandatory license and education described above under Basic Requirements: Applicants must have at least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level or above) and possession of a diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree or master's degree in Nursing from a professional nursing program. Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of Professional Nursing Experience to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Independently provide professional nursing duties according to established professional nursing principles, practices, and procedures in an ICU setting, utilizing knowledge of electrophysiology of the cardiac system, fluid and electrolytes balance, physiology and interpretation of invasive monitoring systems; develop or participate in development of patient care plan, knowledge of pharmaceuticals, desired effects, side effect and complications of their use and knowledge of a wide variety of medical disorders, the normal course of disease, anticipated complications and indicated therapeutic interventions; provide guidance and leadership to other nursing personnel; document observations, nursing interventions taken and emergency measures administered and communicate and interact with multidisciplinary health care team. **Note: This is an Open Continuous Announcement; applicants will be referred when vacancies occur. 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 http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information This is an Open Continuous announcement; applicants will be referred when vacancies occur. The first Cut-off date for receipt/referral of applications to be considered for available vacant positions will be 15 days after the JOA open date. Your resume and any documents submitted will be retained for eight 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. 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. 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. Government housing may be available, depending on location and availability. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 1 year 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 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.
Confirm your E-mail: Send Email
All Jobs from Indian Health Service