Senior Clinical Nurse, Medical Asset Support Team (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory

About the role

Senior Clinical Nurse, MAST provides direct nursing care during TDY assignments at IHSC-staffed facilities and supports nursing operations, training, policy, quality assurance, and clinical improvement projects. Requires RN licensure, BLS/CPR, 5+ years clinical/nursing management experience, readiness to travel, strong leadership, documentation, and communication skills.

This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

What you will do

• Clinical Care and Support o Provides direct patient care to non-citizens at IHSC-staffed facilities on temporary duty (TDY) assignments.
• Travel is a critical component of this position.
• While travel is generally expected to comprise approximately 50% of the incumbent's duty time, additional travel, including emergency and short notice assignments, may be required to support IHSC mission needs.
• Assignments may involve both domestic and international destinations based on operational priorities.
• Candidates must be prepared to travel on short notice and for extended periods, including overnight stays, and to work outside standard business hours as needed during travel.
• All travel will be conducted in accordance with agency policies and procedures. o Practices nursing in accordance with national, state, and local laws and regulations, IHSC policies, directives, guidelines, and accreditation standards. o Practices in accordance with IHSC Nursing Services Unit (NSU) Clinical Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, nursing competencies, orientation/training, and nursing post orders. o Maintains clinical professional skills through continuing education and daily practice; demonstrates proficiency in a wide range of nursing concepts, including correctional health, mental health, medical-surgical, ambulatory, and emergency care. o Conducts nursing assessments, obtains medical histories, performs triage, and provides direct nursing care and procedures as ordered, including medication administration, immunizations, laboratory specimen collection, etc. in accordance with Lippincott Procedures Manual. o Performs comprehensive and holistic assessments, applied evidence-based analysis to prioritize patient needs, and refers patients to higher levels of care as needed. o Documents all patient encounters accurately and timely in accordance with IHSC policy, using S.O.A.P.E. format and electronic health records. o Responds to emergency medical calls and provides emergency treatment as required. o Provides patient teaching and health education, utilizing interpretation and translation services as needed. o May serve as clinic coordinator, acting nurse manager (NM) or charge nurse during TDY assignments, providing guidance and oversight to federal and contract nursing staff (RNs, LVNs/LPNs, CNAs). o Assists health services administrators (HSA) and NMs in oversight of contract nursing staff, training, and completion of onsite review of nursing competencies during TDY assignments. o May serve as a medical escort for detainees during domestic or overseas travel under the direction of the IHSC Special Operations Unit. o Performs other clinical duties as assigned.
• Program and Administrative Support o Supports assigned programs and projects within the clinical services division when not engaged in direct clinical care. o Participates with NSU in the development, review, and implementation of nursing policies, procedures, and corrective action plans to resolve issues related to the delivery of nursing care. o Assists with orientation, training, and competency review for new nursing staff; develops and delivers nursing education in-services and training modules. o May function as a consultant for clinical advisory tasks, policy guidance, and quality measures as required by IHSC leadership. o Collaborates with the NSU leadership and NMs when TDY to assess and improve the effectiveness of orientation and training processes. o Ensures proper utilization and documentation of translation services in the medical record and provides corrective actions as necessary. o Monitors compliance with IHSC policy, accreditation standards, and documentation requirements; participates in internal assessments and implements process improvements as needed in collaboration with NSU leadership.
• Collaboration and Communication o During TDY assignments, collaborates with site leadership, including HSA, NM, Clinical Director (CD), and multidisciplinary teams to establish and maintain processes and procedures that meet all applicable medical and operational standards. o May serve as a member of the local leadership team (TRIAD) in the absence of the NM, working in partnership with NSU leadership and the local HSA and CD to support clinic operations and nursing standards. o Communicates nursing operational and quality issues to site NM, Regional Nurse Manager (RNM), or Chief Nurse (CN) and participates in NSU hosted meetings, as needed. o Provides input into nursing treatment plans, assists with identification of special needs accommodations, and follows up on care as needed. o Maintains collaborative relationships with other healthcare disciplines and outside agencies (e.g., CDC, state/local health departments).
• Job duties continue in additional information section below

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Bachelor's or Master's degree in nursing (Master's preferred) from an accredited nursing school.

Must be a registered nurse licensed by a State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or U.S. territory; maintains current professional licensure, and CPR/BLS certification.

Minimum of five years of clinical nursing and nursing management experience; correctional healthcare experience preferred. Knowledge of the Nurse Practice Act for the licensing state or territory and the state or territory in which one practices nursing. Knowledge of nursing management, leadership, and team building principles.

Training methods and interpersonal skills to develop rapport with patients and co-workers. Proficiency in electronic health records systems and common Microsoft Office programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint. Flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work-related requirements.

Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats to perform the functions and duties listed above. Spanish language proficiency preferred, not required. Maintains U.S. Public Health Service Readiness and Duty Requirements.

How you will be evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. You may be selected for an interview at the hiring authority's discretion. You will be notified of selection or non-selection.

Documents you must provide

• 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.
• Public Health Service Officers Cover Letter/Letter of Interest.
• (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.
• (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

What to expect next

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process.

To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.

Additional information

Continued Job Duties: 4.

Quality Assurance, Data, and Reporting o Monitors and documents clinical activities, reviews nursing documentation for accuracy and compliance, and assists with data collection and reporting for quality assurance purposes. o May participate in the development and review of national, evidence-based nursing clinical guidelines and protocols with NSU. o Identifies, analyzes, and reports on nursing, theoretical, and factual data, conditions, and problems; develops and implements corrective action plans as needed. o Facilitates ease of data reporting, collection, and the generation of required reports; prepares statistical information and special reports as necessary.

5.

Professional Development and Leadership o Demonstrates and promotes culturally competent care in all clinical areas. o Maintains knowledge of current nursing research trends and applies evidence-based practices. o May contribute to the development of short- and long-range objectives for the nursing division, and participates in planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating nursing policy. o Serves as a mentor and resource to nursing staff, providing guidance, training, and support for professional growth. o Contributes to strategies for recruitment and retention of nursing staff and recognizes excellence in nursing practice. o Maintains U.S. Public Health Service Readiness and Duty Requirements and participates in agency training and leadership development as recommended.

6. Other Duties o Performs additional duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of IHSC's mission and operational requirements.

This position is located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC), Office of Deputy Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Clinical Services Support Unit.

The Medical Asset Support Team (MAST) program consists of a cadre of physicians, advanced practice providers, behavioral health providers, and registered nurses that augment and respond to the needs of IHSC-staffed facilities and provide support for administrative tasks and projects to IHSC units and programs.

The incumbent serves as the Senior Clinical Nurse, MAST, providing direct nursing care at IHSC-staffed facilities as assigned, and serving as an expert resource to support nursing staff, nursing practice, and the IHSC health care mission.

The incumbent provides clinical and administrative nursing support, collaborates with IHSC units and programs, and participates in tasks designed to improve clinical nursing care within IHSC. IHSC provides direct care daily to detainees at designated facilities nationwide, including medical, dental, mental health, and public health services.

IHSC also manages medical case oversight for detainees at non-IHSC staffed detention facilities and oversees financial authorization for off-site specialty and emergency care. The ICE detainee population is approximately 34,000 daily, with an average length of stay of 30 days, surpassing 400,000 detainees annually.

IHSC provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations in the air, on the ground, and at sea. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The incumbent reports directly to the MAST Regional Program Management Officer (PMO), with the MAST Supervisory PMO serving as reviewing official. During TDY assignments, oversight provided by site NM or Regional NM.