RN Inpatient - IHS Contract Position

Vision Quest Solutions Inc.; South Dakota; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Vision Quest Solutions Inc. seeks a Registered Nurse for the Acute Care Medical-Surgical Inpatient Unit serving tribal communities through the Indian Health Service.

You will deliver compassionate, patient-centered care within a government contract environment, with opportunities to impact lives through high-quality nursing care. The role emphasizes teamwork, adaptability, and adherence to CMS, TJC, and IHS standards.

Qualifications

• Active, unrestricted RN license from any U.S. state or DC.
• Minimum two years of recent Medical-Surgical inpatient and Acute Care nursing experience.
• Current American Heart Association certifications: BLS, ACLS, PALS.
• Strong clinical assessment, critical thinking, and nursing documentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Cultural sensitivity when working with tribal communities.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care to pediatric to geriatric patients in inpatient acute care.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized patient care plans.
• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments and adapt plans as conditions change.
• Administer medications and treatments through all approved routes.
• Monitor cardiac telemetry, oxygen therapy, and emergency interventions.
• Assist with activities of daily living, wound care, and specimen collection.
• Respond to cardiac arrests and resuscitative events as needed.
• Operate and maintain inpatient nursing equipment and EHR systems.
• Document assessments, interventions, and patient responses in IHS RPMS/EHR.
• Collaborate with providers and outside agencies to coordinate care.
• Educate patients and families on diagnoses, medications, and discharge plans.

Skills

RN License

Medical-Surgical experience

Critical thinking

EHR documentation

Cultural sensitivity

Team collaboration

Tools

RPMS/EHR systems

Job description

Description

As a Registered Nurse with Vision Quest Solutions, you will play a critical role in delivering compassionate, patient-centered care within the Acute Care Medical-Surgical Inpatient Unit serving tribal communities through the Indian Health Service. This government contract position supports inpatient and emergency staffing needs while providing the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through high-quality nursing care in a culturally respectful environment.

If you are an experienced RN who values teamwork, service, adaptability, and purpose-driven work, this role offers the opportunity to provide essential care where it is needed most.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care to pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients with acute and chronic medical conditions in an inpatient acute care setting
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized patient care plans utilizing the nursing process
• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments and reassessments independently based on changes in patient condition
• Administer medications and treatments through all approved routes including PO, IM, IV, subcutaneous, transdermal, nebulized, rectal, and other prescribed methods
• Monitor and manage cardiac telemetry, oxygen therapy, respiratory treatments, and emergency interventions
• Assist patients with activities of daily living, ambulation, wound care, specimen collection, venipuncture, urinary catheter care, NG/OG tube care, and other nursing procedures
• Respond appropriately during cardiac arrests, emergency situations, anaphylaxis, and resuscitative events
• Operate and maintain medical equipment including IV pumps, telemetry monitors, glucometers, defibrillators, EKG machines, patient lifts, and other inpatient nursing equipment
• Document nursing assessments, interventions, patient responses, and care coordination accurately within IHS electronic health records and RPMS systems
• Collaborate with providers, multidisciplinary teams, and outside healthcare agencies to coordinate patient care and referrals
• Educate patients and families regarding diagnoses, medications, discharge planning, disease processes, and health maintenance
• Follow all infection control, safety, quality assurance, and regulatory standards
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with CMS, TJC, IHS, and facility documentation requirements
• Participate in staff meetings, professional activities, and required trainings
• Promote a safe, respectful, and culturally sensitive care environment for Native American patients and communities

Schedule

• Acute Care Inpatient Unit schedule
• Seven (7) 12-hour shifts within a two-week pay period
• Day shift: 0700 – 1930
• Night shift: 1900 – 0730
• Shift rotation required based on staffing needs and patient census
• Overtime may be required in accordance with staffing needs and federal regulations

Work Environment

• Acute Care Medical-Surgical Inpatient Unit
• Fast-paced clinical environment requiring adaptability and strong clinical judgment
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting, reaching, and direct patient care
• May require lifting or repositioning patients and equipment exceeding 50 pounds
• Exposure to emergency and high-stress clinical situations
• On-site role located in Pine Ridge, South Dakota and surrounding service unit clinics
• Essential healthcare role requiring reliability in all weather conditions

Company Overview

Vision Quest Solutions proudly supports Indian Health Service and tribal communities by providing highly skilled healthcare professionals committed to compassionate, culturally respectful care.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license from any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia
• Minimum two (2) years of recent Medical-Surgical inpatient and Acute Care nursing experience required
• Current American Heart Association certifications required:
• BLS
• ACLS
• PALS
• Strong clinical assessment and critical thinking skills
• Experience with electronic health records and nursing documentation systems preferred
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary healthcare team
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity when working within tribal communities
• Must maintain active licensure and certifications throughout the contract period with no lapses
• Must successfully pass federal background investigation requirements and obtain all required credentials

Employee Health Requirements

Contract staff must comply with all employee health and immunization requirements prior to starting, including but not limited to:

• MMR
• Varicella
• Tdap
• Annual TB screening
• Hepatitis A & B
• Annual Influenza vaccination
• COVID-19 vaccination series