Nurse (Public Health)

The Indian Health Service; Bloomfield (NM); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Indian Health Service in Bloomfield, NM is seeking a Public Health Nurse to deliver community-based nursing services across the lifespan, including screenings, immunizations, education, and disease prevention. You will work with tribal and clinical teams to strengthen population health and improve outcomes.

Under various grade levels, duties include applying nursing processes in homes, clinics, and schools; maintaining registries, supporting surveillance, and contributing to quality

Qualifications

• Nursing license (RN) required and active.
• BSN or higher degree in nursing from an accredited program.
• Experience with public health nursing is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide community/public health nursing services across home, school, clinic and community settings.
• Collect and document demographic/clinical data and support surveillance activities.
• Deliver health education and prevention messaging with culturally appropriate materials.
• Assist with referrals, follow-up, and documentation in the EHR; participate in quality improvement.

Skills

Nursing

Public health

Community health education

Education

BSN

Tools

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Job description

Summary

Join the Indian Health Service (IHS) as a Public Health Nurse serving communities in the Navajo Region. Provide comprehensive public health nursing services, including community assessments, preventive care, health education, and quality improvement initiatives. Collaborate with healthcare teams to promote wellness, and improve health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Join the Indian Health Service (IHS) as a Public Health Nurse serving communities in the Navajo Region. Provide comprehensive public health nursing services, including community assessments, preventive care, health education, and quality improvement initiatives. Collaborate with healthcare teams to promote wellness, and improve health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Duties

Total Compensation Package

Registered Nurse Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

Public Health Nurse GS-0610-07 Duties

• Under close supervision, supports community/public health nursing services by assisting higher-level nurses in applying the nursing process to deliver care in home, school, clinic, and community outreach settings.
• Collects and documents demographic, clinical, and basic epidemiologic information; helps maintain registries (e.g., immunization tracking) and supports routine communicable disease surveillance activities using established tools and protocols.
• Provides basic health education and prevention messaging using approved materials and reinforces established plans of care, including culturally safe health promotion across the lifespan.
• Assists with referrals, follow-up, and documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) and participates in quality improvement and reporting activities in accordance with standing orders, professional standards, and supervisory guidance.

Public Health Nurse GS-0610-09 Duties

• With minimal supervision, independently provides comprehensive community/public health nursing services to individuals and families across the lifespan using the nursing process in home, school, clinic, and community settings.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates individualized and family-centered plans of care, including outreach, screening, immunization follow-up, referral, early intervention, and case management.
• Participates in population health assessment and communicable disease control by collecting, validating, and documenting data and assisting with case reporting, investigation, contact follow-up, and implementation of control measures in coordination with public health entities.
• Coordinates care and transitions with interdisciplinary teams and tribal/community partners, delivers cultural and literacy-appropriate health education, and supports program documentation and quality improvement activities consistent with regulatory and professional standards.

Public Health Nurse GS-0610-11 Duties

• Independently plans, prioritizes, and delivers community/public health nursing services to individuals, families, groups, and defined populations, integrating public health principles with clinical practice (e.g., primary prevention, chronic disease management, maternal/child health, and communicable disease prevention/control).
• Conducts comprehensive population and community assessments by analyzing demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic data to identify trends, priority health issues, high-risk groups, and disparities, and translates findings into targeted prevention and early intervention strategies.
• Leads or coordinates communicable disease investigations and outbreak response activities and develops, implements, and evaluates community-based health programs in collaboration with public health entities and community/tribal partners.
• Serves as a clinical and public health resource through consultation, mentoring, and training, and advances program effectiveness through evaluation, quality improvement, accurate documentation, and adherence to nurse practice acts and public health nursing standards.

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.

The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain 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 Requirement

This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.

A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service.

Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.

Financial Suitability Requirement

This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying.

Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

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.

Degree And License Waiting Period For Impending Graduates

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 6 month(s) of applying, may be deemed tentatively qualified. Applicants who have not completed their education requirements (but who are within the established timeframe for qualifying) must submit:

• Documentation from the educational institution's registrar, dean or other appropriate official that attests to the applicable timeframe for completion of the professional program/coursework AND
• A copy of the most recent unofficial transcript.

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.

Degree From Foreign Nursing School

Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools 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. 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-7

• 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

• 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.

Basic Requirements for the GS-11

• Successful completion of a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing educational program or related medical science field; or
• At least one full year of professional nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level) and possession of a diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree from a professional nursing educational program.

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-07

Performing basic nursing care (e.g., screenings, immunizations, routine procedures) within competency and standing orders and promptly escalating abnormal findings to a supervising nurse or provider. Collecting and documenting demographic and clinical data using established tools, registries, and protocols; maintaining accurate records in an electronic health record. Providing basic health education and prevention messaging and reinforcing established care plans, including culturally safe communication. Supporting care coordination activities by arranging referrals, scheduling follow-up, and connecting clients to services that address medical and social drivers of health. Supporting communicable disease surveillance and control activities (e.g., routine case reporting, tracking, and follow-up documentation) under supervisory guidance.

Specialized Experience GS-09

Developing, implementing, and evaluating individualized and family-centered plans of care in community settings (e.g., home, school, clinic), including care coordination and case management. Providing skilled nursing interventions (e.g., immunizations/medications/treatments as authorized), monitoring patient response, documenting outcomes, and communicating significant findings to providers. Participating in communicable disease investigations and control activities, including case reporting, interviews, contact follow-up, and implementation of control measures in coordination with public health entities. Collecting and documenting data to support surveillance and community health assessment activities. Delivering culturally appropriate, literacy- and language-tailored health education and prevention interventions across the lifespan. Contributing to performance improvement quality assurance activities.

Specialized Experience GS-11

Conducting population health assessments and analyzing data to identify priority health issues, vulnerable populations, and health disparities. Performing complex case management and care coordination for individuals/families (e.g., acute conditions, chronic disease, communicable disease cases) across care settings and community resources. Tailoring health promotion and disease prevention interventions and strategies to include literacy, language, culture, social and community factors. Independently providing skilled nursing interventions (e.g., immunizations/medications/treatments as authorized), monitoring patient response, documenting outcomes, and communicating significant findings to providers. Serving as a clinical and public health resource to staff through mentoring, training, and leading performance improvement and quality assurance activities. Leading or coordinating communicable disease investigations and outbreak response (case interviews, contact identification, reporting, and follow-up) in collaboration with public health entities, and implementing control measures within scope.

Education

Education requirements --- (repeat as needed). Please submit transcripts as described earlier.

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests:

When you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire CompetencyBased Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit.

Confidential Financial Disclosure Form required.

Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. A service agreement will be required.

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 the National and/or Service Unit guidance.

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

You will be evaluated for this position in accordance with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan.

Short Essay Responses

• How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government?
• In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness?
• In this role, you will be expected to professionally and efficiently implement executive direction. Provide an example where you implemented leadership direction on a strategy or policy decision that differed from your own recommendation.
• How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements?
• Your responses are optional and will not be scored.
• However, they may be reviewed by hiring managers and agency leadership (or designees) during the evaluation process.
• You will be asked to certify that your responses are written in your own words and that you did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) tool (such as ChatGPT or Copilot).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package

As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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 has promotion potential to the GS-GS-11 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.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.