Community Health as a New Grad w/ IHS

The Indian Health Service (IHS) moves at glacial speed.  I’ve worked as a public health nurse for IHS at several locations in the past. The hiring process can take months.  Don’t bother calling Human Resources.  Call the DPHN (Director Public Health Nursing) at the location with the vacancy.

Even better, get in touch with the nurse recruiter for the region you are interested in. IHS has provided me with both the most satisfying and most discouraging parts of my public health career.

There is a lot of tough stuff to see.  Short life expectancies, high rates of suicide, devastating toll of drug and alcohol abuse, extreme poverty, starving dogs and remote locations.  There are really beautiful moments as well and those can keep you going. 

Florentine - thank you for your service & dedication to such a vulnerable population.

I get the impression that IHS is even slower than the VA system. Even state civil service moves slowly.

I have no advice but just wanted to send kudos and encouragement! I have always been interested in working for the IHS and hope I may get the opportunity after I finish my MSN. I hope you are able to get your dream job so you can come back and tell me all about it!

Actually, small suggestion: I wouldn't entirely be disappointed about the med-surg jobs within IHS! I feel like working inpatient allows you to get a working sense of the most common and serious issues within the community you serve, barriers and SDOH that specifically face your population, and local resources. I'm looking at an out-of-state move after graduation and plan to work in a hospital at least per diem for a year or two for this very reason (maybe longer because I'm one of those weirdos who actually enjoys med-surg). Plus, once you have your foot in the door, it may be easier to move into public health internally after you gain some experience. Food for thought.

Best of luck! Seriously, come back and tell me what happens.

Hi Emily, just wondering where you landed?  I work at IHS in AZ and the hiring process is dreadfully slow. However all nursing disciplines are needed, RN's and NP's. Happy to help if needed.

On 10/16/2021 at 2:47 AM, TJGJRN said:

Hi Emily, just wondering where you landed?  I work at IHS in AZ and the hiring process is dreadfully slow. However all nursing disciplines are needed, RN's and NP's. Happy to help if needed.

Hi - I came upon this thread in the beginning of my journey. . .I'm currently in school for NM/WHNP and my goal is to work with IHS as a nurse midwife (and women's health nurse practitioner) in either AZ or NM. I'm in NJ now, so I'm trying to build up some network as well. I check their openings page often and they do list one year of experience needed for midwives, but I'm wondering if that is set in stone? Can you advise how to best get into IHS? I will graduate 8/2023, so I have some time. I was thinking of trying to visit in 12/2022 when I'll have 2 weeks between terms, I'm not sure if that is long enough to make a volunteer trip worthwhile, but I did consider it. I'm also ignorant of the politics, only hearing from a casual Native acquaintance that most Natives do not trust nor like IHS, and so any direction in learning about the issues surrounding that or organizations that support local traditions, etc, would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

Hi just wondering if you (or anyone here) ended up going to work for IHS. I am very interested in this path and would love to connect with others who are already on it.

I absolutely loved the patients, co-workers, living remotely on the reservation. There are better and worse IHS locations to work and regional offices to work for so investigate thoroughly.  The region I worked in did not honor the wage agreement in spite of my outstanding evaluations and so that is why I left.  Some are Federal, some Tribal so know pro's/con's too. 
The work was so rewarding I would have worked a different IHS  region in a heartbeat but there is not one near where I live.  (Home base is 5 states away.) It looks like you have a little one, remote res life can be a challenge unless you are native or familiar with unique living conditions on the res. There are other locations where living will be just "normal" for what you may be used to. The work is hard, more than can be done.  I was a new grad, ACOS allowed me to orient to 3 patients and within 2 months I had to see 20+/d.  My co-workers were so supportive but just as busy. I liked the schedule (FP clinic and UC 10 on/10 off) and I learned a lot.  
Overall I prefer the VA because they honor OPM guidelines, have a better salary table, great benefits and retirement. 

@TJGJRN Tysm for sharing some of your experience! I have questions! What location did you work in AZ? What is ACOS? Are you an NP? What do you mean they didn't honor the wage agreement?
 

I have interviews at Chinle and Zuni for inpatient RN positions. I'm currently working on my BSN with plans to continue on to CNM after and also just applied for commissioned corps. Excited to start my career with IHS but I feel it's gonna be a tough decision between the 2 locations.