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Lead Nurse

Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The purpose of the position is to supervise and provide nursing direction/care to the youth in treatment at the Youth Regional Treatment Center (YRTC), including providing clinical guidance to a team of employees providing inpatient adolescent substance use, behavioral health and co-occurring disorders care. Position reports to the Director of Nursing.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/12/2025 to 07/03/2025
Salary
$97,271 to - $126,446 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Davis, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
IHS-25-CA-12709916-ESEP/MP
Control number
833771800

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Duties

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

  • Provides direct residential nursing services, including 1) screens patients and elicits patient history; 2) assesses needs and refers for care; 3) coordinates medications with pharmacy; 4) supervises medication administration for licensed and/or certified staff; 5) operates medical equipment; 6) records observations, assessment and intervention on patient's medical records; and 7) provides and assist in the provision of emergency treatment.
  • Assists with the program planning for the nursing activities.
  • Develops nursing policies and procedures.
  • Participates in quality improvement activities for nursing.
  • Participates in meeting accreditation standards.
  • Ensures medical/nursing documentation and activities for admission, during treatment, and discharge are completed, including coordinating medical/dental appointments.
  • Provide delegation and oversight of nursing duties to Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN), Psychiatric Technician, and Social Service Assistants on a rotating shift schedule.
This position is being re-advertised to solicit additional applications. Applicants who applied previously need not reapply unless submitting updated and/or missing information.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must pass pre-employment examination.
Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
Must pass a pre-employment physical examination.

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.

Adherence to the IHS Employee Immunization Policy, SGM 21-04, and the IHS Circular 2016-04 requiring Measles and Rubella, COVID-19, and seasonal influenza immunizations for staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities OR an exemption request will need to be submitted.

Rotation Shift is required including Day, Evening, Nights, Weekend, and Holidays.

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/.

Physical Requirements: Prolong walking, standing and sitting. Ability to attend outdoor recreational/cultural activities in extreme to cold/hot weather. High levels of stress may be experienced in relation to work with residents with substance use, behavioral health, and other co-occurring disorders. Emergency and/or crisis situations may require physical effort to restrain patient, and occasional lifting of objects up to 30 pounds.

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):
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.

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
To qualify for the GS-11 grade level you must have either education or experience as described below.

Experience - 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: Assess the medical history and conditions of patients, in providing nursing care, and in advising on health care needs, all with full consideration of mental, emotional, cultural, social and physical factors; determine an appropriate course of action based on assessment of patient's symptoms and behavior; administer medication based on the knowledge of expected therapeutic effects, side effects and drug incompatibilities; provide and assist in the provision of emergency treatment; and delegate nursing duties to team members.
OR
Education - Successful completion of a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree from a professional nursing educational program or related medical science field.

Time In Grade
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.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

**This position is being announced concurrently under Direct Hire (DH) procedures. Please review vacancy announcement number IHS-25-CA-12709915-DH; for eligibility requirements. Read the "This job is open to" section- it tells you who is eligible to apply to the job. NOTE: Applicants will only be considered for the hiring path(s) listed on the job announcement to which they apply.**

Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement.

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.

Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 6 month service agreement will be required.

This position meets the criteria specified in pillar number one of the five pillars of the PHS Commissioned Corps. PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps MUST apply online under the merit promotion announcement indicated above in order to receive consideration. For more information on PHS Commissioned Corps, visit the website at: https://www.usphs.gov/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.

To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement and your responses to the assessment questions.
You will be further evaluated/rated based on the information provided in your resume (your resume must state specific duties that relate to this position) and your responses to the assessment questions to determine your competency in the following.

  • Healthcare
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Teaching Others
  • Technical Competence


You will receive a numeric rating based on your responses to the assessment questionnaires. If after reviewing your resume and responses to the assessment questions, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration.

The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Workforce Restructuring Career Transition website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12709916. All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 07/03/2025, to be considered.

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