Nurse (Outpatient)

Indian Health Service; Towaoc (CO); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Indian Health Service in Towaoc, Colorado, is seeking a dedicated Nurse to provide comprehensive, evidence-based nursing care. You will deliver compassionate patient-centered care, demonstrate leadership, and guide support staff, while working within a dynamic clinical environment.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and at least one year of specialized experience. Applicants must possess a current, active nursing license and fulfill specific employment conditions. Health policies may apply.

Qualifications

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Graduate degree from an accredited professional nursing program.
• Must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive, evidence-based nursing care in an ambulatory care setting.
• Demonstrate professional competence and sound clinical judgment.
• Contribute to health promotion, education, and quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Patient-centered care

Evidence-based practice

Clinical judgment

Care coordination

Triage

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing

Diploma/Associate degree in Nursing

Job description

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 will deliver compassionate care where it is needed most.

Duties / Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive, evidence‑based, patient‑centered nursing care to individuals and families in an ambulatory care setting. Demonstrate professional competence, leadership, and sound clinical judgment while delivering high‑quality care to patients with a wide range of acute and chronic conditions.

Provide oversight and direction to licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the clinic setting.

Actively contribute to care coordination, health promotion, education, and quality improvement initiatives.

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Position may involve on‑call or standby duty, rotating shifts, and days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Shift rotations may vary from 8, 10, or 12 hours.
• Successful completion of an E‑Verify employment verification check is required.
• A federal background investigation is required as a condition of employment; applicants must complete required forms within five calendar days of issuance.
• Financial suitability review is required; applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility.
• Applicants will be required to set up direct deposit.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized; a six‑month service agreement will be required.
• A Real ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025.
• Employees may be subject to health policies related to measles, rubella, and influenza immunizations.

Total Compensation Package

Check out IHS's total compensation package for this position: Registered Nurse Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov).

Qualifications

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate sufficient experience and/or education to perform the duties of this position. Experience may include paid, unpaid, or volunteer work. Applicants must identify duties, responsibilities, and hours per week for each position held.

Basic Requirements per Grade Level

• GS‑5: Bachelor’s degree in Nursing with no experience, or diploma/associate degree with one full year of professional nursing experience.
• GS‑7: Bachelor’s degree with eligibility under Superior Academic Achievement provision; or bachelor’s degree with one full year of experience; or diploma/associate degree with two full years of experience; or one full year of graduate education in a professional nursing program.
• GS‑9: Master’s degree in professional nursing; or at least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to GS‑7 or above) and possession of a diploma, associate or bachelor’s degree in Nursing.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Specialized experience for GS‑7 includes performing outpatient nursing duties, triage, patient assessment, medication administration, documentation, coordination of care, counseling, and teaching patients. Specialized experience for GS‑9 includes implementing disease‑management guidelines, comprehensive assessments, care planning, medication administration, evaluating outcomes, and mentoring staff.

Education & Licensure

• Graduate, bachelor’s, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing program.
• Degree from a foreign nursing school requires official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
• Must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination and possess a current, active, full, unrestricted license or registration from a state, D.C., Puerto Rico, or U.S. territory.
• Foreign education requires submission of a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with an unofficial transcript.

Eligibility & Commitment

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements within thirty days of the closing date of the announcement.