Summary
This is an open continuous announcement to fill current and future Advanced Practice Nurse vacancies within the Great Plains Area. The presence of a location does not necessarily indicate a current vacancy. Open continuous announcements are utilized to provide our facilities a readily available source of applicants when vacancies occur. A qualification review will be conducted, and qualified candidates will be referred to the facilities as positions become vacant and are approved.
Duties
At IHS, you have more than a job-you have a mission to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/ AN) people to the highest level. Working with a dynamic team of professionals helping provide high-quality healthcare to AI/AN people across the nation. As an Advanced Practice Nurse, you are an invaluable member of the inter-professional health care team. You contribute knowledge and expertise to optimize patient-driven care and advance IHS goals for improving access to care. You help provide safe, effective, high-quality care as part of a dynamic team in our hospitals, health centers, health stations, and clinics. Duties include analyzing and interpreting patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses; developing treatment plans based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines; prescribing medications based on efficacy, safety, dosage and frequencies; educating patients and tailoring instructions to patients' individual circumstances.
Most of our sites hire Nurse Practitioners for outpatient positions, as primary care providers (preferred candidate is FNP).
Some sites may have more specialized positions, including Anesthesia, Midwifery, Psychiatric Mental Health, Emergency, Pediatric, Women's Health.
Nurse Practitioner Pay Table:
Certified Nurse Midwife Pay Table:
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Pay Table:
NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected.
Work Schedule: Specific tour will vary based on the position being filled.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Must pass pre-employment examination.
- 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.
- Position may be subject to on-call hours or standby duty, rotating shifts and nights/weekends/holidays.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit .
- 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):
General Schedule Qualification Standard Link:
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 for Advanced Practice Nurse Positions: For Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) positions, applicants must possess a graduate or higher-level degree in nursing from an accredited educational program in the area of expertise or specialty indicated of the position to be filled. 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.
Areas of specialties for positions at these locations may include, but are not limited to, Anesthesia, Midwifery, Family, Psychiatric Mental Health, Emergency, Pediatric, Women's Health.
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. Advanced Practice Nurse Positions:
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.
Additional License Requirements for Advanced Practice Nurse Positions: Applicants for Advanced Practice Nurse positions must be licensed or registered by a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States in the clinical specialty required by the position.
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.
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 within 9 month(s) of applying, may be deemed tentatively qualified.
Basic Requirements for the GS-9 (or equivalent) Grade Level
- Applicants who meet the above APN education and licensure requirements qualify for the GS-9.
- Applicants currently enrolled in a professional nursing program and expect to obtain APN licensure within 9 months.
In addition to the above APN requirements, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
- Successful completion of a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing educational program or related medical science field.
- At least one full year of professional advanced practice nursing experience (equivalent to the GS-9 grade level)
- In addition to the mandatory license and education described above under Basic Requirements applicants must have at least one or more full years of professional advanced practice nursing experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
- In addition to the mandatory license and education described above under Basic Requirements applicants must have at least one or more full years of professional advanced practice nursing experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
Time In Grade (Merit Promotion Candidates Only)
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
This position will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and Veterans' Preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants.
This is an open continuous vacancy announcement, and applications will be referred when vacancies occur. This Announcement is intended as a mechanism of providing consideration for the greatest number of potential candidates. Candidates with a complete application will be considered for all vacancies that occur for a 8-month period or the closing date of this announcement, whichever comes first. You will be considered for those vacancies that match your desired geographic locations, skills and or job preferences. Positions may be filled at ANY of the grade levels indicated in this announcement, with or without promotion potential as vacancies occur. Applicants should specify the lowest grade (GS level) that they will accept.
Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected.
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.
This position will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and Veterans' Preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see . Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements. To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must substantively exceed the basic qualifications and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and any other requirements.
Click here to view vacancy questions: . All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 07/07/2025, to be considered.
Required Documents
Resume: You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed, annual salary, and description of job duties. Include name and address of employer; supervisor name and telephone number.
Required as applicable for the purposes of specific eligibility and appointment claim(s), and position requirements:
Indian Preference Applicants: If claiming Indian preference, applicants must provide a completed copy of the Form BIA-4432, "Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Only." Indian preference will not be given unless a properly signed and dated form is submitted with your application, including any verification by an authorized Tribal Representative or BIA Official of tribal enrollment records. For detailed instructions, see form BIA-4432. Refer to BIA-4432 link: . When an Indian Preference candidate possesses Veterans preference the rules regarding Veterans preference apply under ESEP and the applicant must provide documentation in order to receive preference.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: .
Transcripts: You are encouraged to submit copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) although not required at the time of application. You must list your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Official transcripts will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
Licensure, Certifications: Applicants should list their license/certifications on their resume, along with the expiration date, if applicable. Certification of licensure/certification will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.
You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 07/07/2025
This announcement is advertised as Open Continuous. The first cut-off date for receipt/referral of applications to be considered for available vacant positions will be on 07/22/2024 and every 10 business days thereafter.
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.
