Clarification from the agency

The IHS is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified applicants who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3.

Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Registered Nurse Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)
IHS Total Compensation of a Registered Nurse

All Grade levels MAY NOT be available at all locations.

This position is approved for Standby Duty and works on a regularly assigned rotational OR standby schedule. The purpose of this position is to provide comprehensive care to pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients within the Indian Health Service:

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.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• 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 will function as the primary scrub technician and be responsible for handling instrument, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures.
• Work other 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. 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.

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 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.

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/.

Position subject to rotating shifts; days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Shift rotations may vary, from 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.

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.

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.

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):

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(external link), Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs(external link), Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education(external link), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.
Degree from Foreign Nursing School: Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (external link) 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(external link). 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-5

• Possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing with no experience; or
• Possession of a diploma or associate degree in professional nursing and one full year of professional nursing experience.

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.

In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below-

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

• Perform in an advanced trainee capacity to higher level OR nurses; Certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS); Observes patient's conditions, Assesses nursing needs, and provides required nursing care; Administer as prescribed oral medications, hypodermic injections and intravenous feeding; Observe and record temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiration data and effects of medication; Prepare patients for tests, examinations and treatment; Prepare and review records, laboratory sheets, Etc.

Specialized experience GS-09

• Provide care for patients before, during and after surgery or surgical procedures without close supervision; Certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS); Perform the role of patient educator, or circulating nurse and/or scrub nurse; Assess patients prior to surgery and alleviate their concerns; Gather all supplies as needed for the operation; Assess patient prior to surgery; Keep operating room sterilized; Position and prepare patient on operation table; Pass medical instruments to surgeon during operation; Monitor patients vital signs to detect anomalies; Evaluate patient in postoperative phases; Adhere to safety standards and precautions.

Specialized experience GS-11

• Developing policies and procedures for infection control to ensure compliance with accreditation requirements; knowledge of professional nursing principles, practices, and procedure to apply infection control practice to hospital programs; knowledge of The Joint Commission, Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, Center of Disease Control, and Occupational Safety Health Association's accreditation policies and guidelines; ability to analyze data, conduct rounds, and initiate the appropriate action with the findings; skill in research methodology including design, data collection, and analysis required for interpreting current research articles and reports; experience with conducting educational training on infection prevention in a large group setting; skill with providing oversight, direction, and coordination of projects and investigations related to infection control services. Acts as the charge nurse in this capacity. Able to coordinate patient care needs and strategize patient disposition while providing unit support.

Click on the following link to view occupational requirements for this position: Nurse Series 0610

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 is an Open Continuous Announcement. Vacancies may not be available at all locations. You will be limited to selecting no more than 5 locations during the application process and will only be considered for the locations you select. Eligible applicants will be referred as vacancies occur.

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 OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet. 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: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12866393.

All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 04/29/2026, to be considered.

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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: https://www.bia.gov/sites/default/files/media_document/1076-0160_indian-pref_expires-04.30.25_508.pdf.
• Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.
• 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. Applicants who have not yet completed their educational requirements within 6 months of applying, 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.
• 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.
• Superior Academic Achievement: If claiming eligibility for Superior Academic Achievement, candidates must provide copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) must be included at the time of initial application. If unable to obtain transcripts, candidates must provide sufficient evidence to validate courses completed and credit hours earned. Eligibility is based on one of the following:
• Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision and based on completed courses.
• Grade-point average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a G.P.A. of: a.) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (''B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or b.) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
• Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society - Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed here Association of College Honor Societies. Official transcripts may be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.

Your application will remain active for 90 days from submission of application.

The first cutoff date will be Friday, February, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST. Future cutoff dates will be each Friday at 11:59 pm EST until the closing date. Your application will remain active for 90 days from submission.

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