Job Description for a Public Health Nurse for Indian Health Service
The Indian Health Service is a federal health program that serves American Indians and Alaskan Natives who are part of more than 557 recognized tribes across 35 states. This amounts to about 1.5 million people who are covered under this system. A public health nurse employed by IHS must prepare for a wide range of duties within a culturally diverse population.
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Duties and Qualifications
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A public health nurse's duties focus mainly on maternity services and child care. To be eligible for the job, she needs a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and at least one year of prior experience.
Work Environment
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A public health nurse must be willing to live and work in diverse areas, including remote, isolated areas. Examples include Kotzebue, Alaska, which is 260 miles north of the Arctic Circle. However, some jobs are in urban centers such as Oklahoma City and Phoenix.
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Employers
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A nurse can either work directly for a tribe or for Indian Health Service. Those who work for the tribes are called "direct hires" and have benefits and salaries that vary among groups. IHS public health nurses are federal employees and receive federal benefits such as paid leave and health insurance.
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References
- Photo Credit nurse on duty image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
