- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
- You must successfully pass a background investigation.
- You must successfully pass a drug screen.
- Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
- Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- Service Remaining Requirement Agreement: Upon appointment to this position, officers will be required to serve an 18 to 24-month commitment to IHSC.
- ASSIGNMENT PAY AGREEMENT: You must not have a current Assignment Pay Agreement. However, if you have a current Assignment Pay Agreement, it must be fulfilled within 90 days of your application submission.
- Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer or USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidate. Civilians are not eligible for this position.
- PHS officers must participate in IHSC TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS.) ITOS is either an entire month or two 16-day periods a year where, depending on the needs of the agency, the officer is required to be available to serve.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
3. b. As a member of the IHSC Nursing Services Unit team, they will assist with participating in the development/review of: i. Special projects to support the DAD of Clinical Services when not on TDY travel. ii. Developing and communicating a strategic vision of nursing care that includes communicating values and goals for a diverse group of nursing professionals. iii. Formulating short and long-range objectives for programs within the nursing division to ensure integration of them with overall objectives and plans of IHSC. iv. Planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating nursing policy. v. Timely corrective action plans to resolve issues related to the delivery of nursing care and nursing personnel issues; federal staff performance or conduct issues are communicated to site NM for appropriate action; contractor performance is documented in real time using the Tier Reporting system in collaboration with site NM or HSA (in absence of NM).vi. discipline specific nursing orientation schedules for each new nursing staff member, in collaboration with the Contract Coordinator (CC) (if contract nurse); may meet with the preceptor/preceptee to assess effectiveness of the orientation process initially or while on TDY to make recommendations for training based on the individual's learning style. vii. utilization and documentation of translation services within the medical record, to include providing corrective actions necessary to ensure appropriate use of translation services per IHSC policy.
4. Identifying, analyzing, advising, consulting, and reporting on nursing, theoretical, and factual data, conditions, and problems, as evidenced by: a. Demonstrating strong oral/written communication and interpersonal skills through the following: i. Performance of complex tasks requiring developed proficiency/ higher responsibility: serving as Clinical Coordinator/ Acting Nurse Manager/ Acting Regional Nurse Manager as assigned. ii. Demonstrates ability to work effectively with all members of the local health care teams to ensure the delivery of comprehensive quality care to all patients by providing input into nursing treatment plans, on-site primary nursing care, assisting with identification of special needs accommodations, and follow-up care as needed. iii. During TDY assignments, serving on local leadership team (TRIAD) in the absence of NM and working in partnership with the HSA and Clinical Director (CD) (responsible health authority) together to establish the processes and procedures necessary to meet all applicable medical and operational standards. During absence of NM or as needed, communicates updates on NSU local, regional, and national goals/taskings to HSA and CD for collaboration. Attends weekly TRIAD meetings if needed to represent NSU. iv. During TDY assignments demonstrates ongoing collaborative communication with local site leadership while serving as Nursing Services Unit liaison with HSA, Assistant Health Services Administrator (AHSA), Facility Healthcare Program Manager (FHPM), Infection Prevention Officer (IPO), Clinical Director (CD), and lead Advanced Practice Provider (APP). v. Maintaining awareness of any operational/quality issues in nursing and identifying strategies for correction of operational/quality issues for nursing at local site to NM, RNM or CN as needed, that includes development of/review of corrective action plans for those issues.vi. During TDY assignments, participating in regular meetings, at request of local NM, with multidisciplinary treatment team members to discuss proposed revisions of treatment plans. vii. During TDY assignments, serving as a liaison for nursing, at request of local NM, while maintaining collaborative relationships with members of other healthcare disciplines. viii. During TDY assignments, provides comprehensive care and treatment plans; evaluates/collaborates as needed for patient care interventions with other health care professionals, using in-depth knowledge of the specific patient's status, anticipating physiological and/or psychological appropriate or adverse responses, to facilitate optimal clinical outcomes.
5. Staying abreast of, and evaluating nursing subjects, analyses, and proposals in professional literature, as evidenced by the following: a. Demonstrating a working knowledge of Lippincott's Nursing Procedures and Advisor programs and utilize this knowledge to evaluate onsite professional nursing practice. b. Effectively assigning required Lippincott training modules to nursing staff and monitoring staff progress. c. Monitoring nursing research trends and reports potentially applicable processes or procedures to Nursing Services Unit (NSU) leadership for evaluation and consideration of implementation. d. Development/review for annual revisions of national, evidence-based Nursing Clinical Guidelines and Protocols for NSU. e. If required during TDY assignments, attending/representing local site at all teleconferences with NSU, such as monthly nurse manager meetings/trainings and quarterly all hands nursing meetings. f. Development of strategies promoting the recruitment and retention of nurses and to recognize nursing excellence g. Attends leadership and other training as recommended.
6. Assessing, resolving, and predicting the relationships and interactions of data and findings under varying conditions, as evidenced by the following: a. Assessing and validating the current patient care delivery system, ensuring clinical and staffing standards for nursing practice are consistent with current evidence-based research and professional standards to align with the mission, vision, and values of the organization. b. Assesses standards for nursing and overall review of quality assurance and data entry procedures for the purpose of generating reports as required/needed. c. May prepare statistical information, regularly scheduled reports, or special reports as necessary. d. Facilitates ease of data reporting, data collection, and the generation of reports by implementing streamlined and approved reporting processes.
7. Reasoning from existing knowledge and assumptions in the nursing field to unexplored areas and phenomena. a. Demonstrates ability of proactive and collaborative adaptation when encountering challenges related to novel health conditions, infectious diseases, and health care trends. b. Demonstrates ability to learn emerging concepts and trends regarding healthcare and nursing services, collaborating with NSU and IHSC leadership, and demonstrates ability to effectively convey new knowledge, such as newly approved practices and procedures, to peers and subordinates. c. Demonstrates annually contributions to NSU program development at the local, regional, and national level with team/unit participation. d. Other duties as assigned.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Required to walk unaided at a normal pace for up to five (5) minutes and maintain balance.
- Required to jog/fast walk up to ¼ mile.
- Required to perform CPR/emergency care standing or kneeling.
- Must have the ability to assist sick, injured, or aging detainees or staff exiting the building (may require lifting, dragging, wheeling, or carrying someone who weighs significantly more than self).
- Must be able to see, hear (with hearing aids if necessary), and smell as needed.
- Must easily alternate between kneeling and standing.
- Must be able to lift, push, or carry 30 pounds.
- Must have the ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time (6-8 hours).
- Must perform the duties of the position in a stressful and often austere environment without physical limitations.
- Hazardous duty assignment
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Competencies required: a. Professional clinical nursing experience: 5 years; i. Experience in correctional health care preferred. ii. 3 years direct clinical patient care (e.g., inpatient) nursing experience preferred. iii. 1 year administrative and/or supervisory experience preferred. iv. 1 year experience equal to O4 (GS-12) required. b. Maintains CPR/BLS certification. c. Obtain CCHP-RN within 2 years of assignment.
- Qualifications-Degrees Required: a. Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing. i. Master's Degree in Nursing or related field preferred.
- Qualifications-Licenses and Certifications Required: a. Nursing License- Must be a Registered Nurse (RN).i. Maintains current/documented professional licensure. (It is the responsibility of the incumbent to fulfill the obligation(s) of their licensing or certifying body to maintain currency. This position may be required to perform clinical activities with the scope of clinical license in times of critical needs within and at the direction of the agency.) b. Professional credentials/certification appropriate to current job specialty.
- Graduate of a professional nursing school approved by the appropriate State accrediting agency.
- Knowledge of the Nurse Practice Act for the licensing state and the state in which one practices nursing.
- Knowledge of a wide range of complex nursing concepts, principles, and practices to perform nursing assessments of considerable diversity to include mental health, medical/surgical, ambulatory, and emergency nursing care.
- Comprehensive knowledge of managing non-compliant patients, special needs populations, and patients with significant deficits in coping skills, thereby requiring continuing professional clinical support.
- Knowledge of correctional nursing concepts and principles.
- Demonstrated evidence of knowledge of nursing management and leadership skills.
- Knowledge of team building principles.
- Knowledge of staff development and basic adult learner teaching skills.
- Maintains clinical professional skills via continuing education opportunities.
- Ability to assess patients' needs and coordinate the appropriate nursing care plan.
- Demonstrates leadership and willingness/ability to assume an increased level of responsibility: may be tasked to function as Team Lead.
- Superior oral/written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal and active listening skills.
- Critical thinking and analytical skills with ability to navigate complex systems.
- Demonstrates strong problem solving, judgment, and decision-making skills.
- Flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements.
- Ability to plan and organize own workload and travel schedule utilizing IHSC travel policies.
- Performs as a punctual and dependent employee for assigned shifts.
- Required to provide direct patient care to support local nursing operation-at least 50% travel for temporary duty assignments (TDY) within IHSC.
- Intermediate or advanced knowledge of computerized databases, sources, and reporting methodologies. Proficiency in MS Office applications preferred.
- Follows supervisory chain of command.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
- Bilingual communication capability. Spanish preferred, but not required.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
8. Nurses collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals to develop the nursing care patient plan and determine how best to serve the nursing needs of particular patients or groups of patients. Consideration may include factors such as: a. Collecting comprehensive and holistic data. b. Eliciting the patient's values, preferences, expressed needs, and knowledge of the health care situation to utilize such information as appropriate within the context of the correctional setting. c. Identifies barriers to effective communication and makes appropriate adaptations. d. Recognizes the impact of personal attitudes, values, and beliefs on the patient's health status. e. Assesses the impact of family dynamics on the patient's health and wellness (if applicable). f. Prioritizing data collection based on the patient's immediate condition, or the anticipated needs of the patient or situation. g. Uses appropriate evidence-based assessment techniques, instruments, and tools. h. Synthesizes available data, information, and knowledge relevant to the situation to identify patterns and variances. i. Applies ethical, legal, and privacy guidelines and policies to the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of data and information. j. Recognizes patients as the authority on their own health by identifying their care preferences.
9. Nurses evaluate execution of nursing-care plans to determine whether they are effectively meeting their goals. Based on those evaluations, they may recommend to nursing leadership any changes they believe necessary to advocate for the health and wellbeing of patients.
10. Nurses may function as consultants providing clinical advisory tasks related to such functions as developing and accessing clinical health outcomes quality measures; evaluating clinical case reviews for adequacy of care, compliance with clinical and regulatory guidelines, overpayment, and audit recovery; and developing policy guidance for nursing care reviews conducted by State or Federal health facility surveyors and in collaboration with the IHSC Medical Quality Management Unit.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The Clinical Senior Nurse, Medical Asset Support Team (MAST) member works under the IHSC Medical Asset Support Team (MAST) Regional Director's general supervision with oversight provided by the Nurse Manager, Clinical Director or designee, and Health Services Administrator at a TDY site.
The incumbent plans and organizes his/her own work, determines the sequence of assignments, selects and develops methods, and seeks assistance from experts only rarely. Assignments are usually long-term, recurring, or broadly defined. Work is reviewed for feasibility, compatibility with other work, and effectiveness in meeting requirements or expected results.
In addition to contacts with patients and patients' families in a clinical setting, establishes and maintains contacts with persons outside the immediate work environment, but within the Department. Contacts are required in order to collaborate, supply advice, explain, interpret, and seek support for methods, policies and programs, and to provide personalized nursing services and administer a moderately complex program requiring a moderate amount of explanation and tact.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position. A complete application includes:
U. S. Public Health Service Officers
- Cover Letter/Letter of Interest.
- Degrees. (Place under "Diploma/GED")
- Professional license. (If applicable)
- Additional professional certificates. (If applicable)
- Three professional references. (i.e., name, title and contact information)
- Official USPHS Promotion CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training. (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV")
- You may provide a civilian resume in addition to the USPHS Promotion CV to capture all relevant work experience.
- A copy of your Certificate of Investigation (located in your eOPF).
- Three most recent Commissioned Officer Effectiveness Reports (COER). (Place under "Performance Appraisal")
- For IHSC USPHS officers only, a copy of your current Service Remaining Requirements Agreement.
- Indicate if you have an Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement and the date of the end of your AP Agreement. If you do not, please submit a memo attesting to no AP in the Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement section in the documents section of application.
New Call to Active Duty
- Cover letter/Letter of Interest. Please include location preference here.
- Degrees. (Place under "Diploma/GED")
- Professional license. (If applicable)
- Additional professional certificates. (If applicable)
- Three professional references (i.e., name, title, and contact information)
- CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training. (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV")
- U.S. Public Health Service - Appointment Board Decision Letter/Email or a screenshot of AES dashboard to the United States Public Health Service
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
