Nurse, Healthcare Nursing

Overview

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'll deliver compassionate care where it's needed most. Your expertise brings healing and hope across generations. Begin your journey with purpose and receive a recruitment/relocation sign-on bonus if you are eligible.

The Operating Room Registered Nurse (RN) provides comprehensive, evidence-based, and patient-centered care to individuals undergoing surgical and procedural interventions. The RN demonstrates clinical expertise, sound judgment, and leadership in the delivery of care before, during, and after surgical procedures across multiple specialties.

• Assessing patient condition based on observation, physical examination, interview, physician diagnosis, laboratory data, and age-specific needs.
• Formulating, implementing, and documenting individualized plans of care based on assessment findings and patient condition.
• Responding to life-threatening situations and initiating emergency resuscitation measures in accordance with adult and pediatric resuscitation protocols.
• Providing pre- and post-operative education, emotional support, and guidance to patients and families regarding procedures, recovery expectations, and self-care.
• Performing pre-, intra-, and post-operative assessments in PACU, Same-Day Surgery, and Pre-Admission units, ensuring safe patient transitions and timely documentation.
• Administering medications under protocol and monitoring patient hemodynamics, airway, tissue perfusion, and surgical sites for bleeding or complications.
• Supervising the delivery of nursing care by other professional and non-professional staff, providing guidance, evaluation, and feedback as needed.
• Collaborating with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and the interdisciplinary team to plan, coordinate, and evaluate patient care to achieve optimal outcomes.
• Maintaining required certifications (e.g., ACLS, BLS, PALS) and demonstrating competency in advanced perioperative and procedural nursing skills.
• Performing on-call duties as required to provide patient care during off-tour hours for emergency surgical and procedural cases.
• If needed, function as the primary scrub technician and be responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures.
• Work with staff to ensure sponge and instrument counts are correct.
• Functions as the second circulator for complex surgical procedures.

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
• You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
• This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. 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.
• IHS Selectees that will work in an IHS health care facility may be subject to Employee Health Policies related to Measles and Rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations. Vaccine exemption requests may be available according to guidance.
• The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, adverse actions may occur.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. Learn more about E-Verify.
• Position subject to rotating shifts; days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Shift rotations may vary (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. Applicants must complete required forms within five calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays.

Qualifications

Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower Federal grade level,…