Department: Department of Health and Human Services
Agency: Indian Health Service
Announcement: IHS-26-PX-13073470-DHA
Pay grade: GS 11
Closes: Oct 15, 2026
Open to: Open to the public, Native Americans

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

The purpose of this position is to provide professional nursing knowledge and clinical judgment for pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients within the Indian Health Service:

• Serves as the principal nursing liaison between patients, families, visitors, clinical staff, administrative departments, and leadership.
• Receives, evaluates, documents, and coordinates resolution of complaints and grievances.
• Explains patient rights, grievance procedures, privacy expectations, and available resources.
• Collects, analyzes, and trends complaint and patient experience data.
• Coordinates appropriate referrals and escalation.
• Participates in Tribal Council and stakeholder meetings as assigned.

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 competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Direct Hire Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same.

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 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/.

Schedule: Monday - Friday

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.

Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.

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 Standards - Nurse Series 0610

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. Must submit copy of official transcripts. Applications will be considered incomplete without proof.

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. Applications will be considered incomplete without proof.

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. Must submit copy of nursing license that includes an expiration date. Applications will be considered incomplete without proof.

In addition to the above requirements, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

Basic Requirements for the GS-11 Grade Level

• 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-9 grade level) and possession of a diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree from a professional nursing educational program. Examples of experience include: Applying professional nursing knowledge and clinical judgment to evaluate patient concerns; resolving patient complaints and grievances; facilitating service recovery; identifying and escalating patient safety concerns; supporting patient rights; analyzing patient experience or complaint trends; participating in healthcare quality improvement activities; and coordinating with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to resolve patient advocacy and service delivery issues.