Registered Nurse – Chief Nurse – Quality and Patient Safety

Summary The Chief Nurse is an expert Registered Nurse who executes responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to the management of programs and complex patient care. They function as an administrator, educator, and consultant with a wide range of experience demonstrating leadership and performance that is broad enough to improve care for large groups of Veterans through influencing policies and decisions at the health care system level and beyond. Responsibilities The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veterans community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor Americas Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Supports Health Care System Director and other members of the Executive leadership team on areas of enterprise risk mitigation and continuous quality improvement. Responsible for planning, designing, integrating, implementing, modifying and administering the enterprise risk management and quality management programs with focus on evaluating and continuously improving services provided for the Veteran population. Provides oversight and maintains program responsibility related to quality and performance improvement patient safety, external accreditation/regulatory oversight reviews, and performance measures. Responsible for engaging leaders and all appropriate staff in the practice of identifying, managing, controlling, and monitoring risks of the organization. Operates under broadly delegated authority, making independent decisions and taking actions to develop and/or modify programs/areas within the scope of this position. Exhibits leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for integrated programs that cross service and discipline lines, and influence the organizational mission and healthcare delivery system, encompassing responsibilities to the Veteran population, the St. Cloud V ARCS, VISN 23 and VHA. Responsible for administrative functions of assigned programs and functions as an administrator, educator and consultant utilizing management and other appropriate theories to support strategic and operational decisions. Uses specialized expertise to assess, design, measure and/or evaluate broad programs and clinical practice in the areas of quality improvement and risk management. Participates in planning for new programs affected by quality and safety. Provides leadership in systems redesign and evaluation of information management systems/programs/reports. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00a-4:30p. Telework: ADHOC-May be authorize (Employee who Telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a masters level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelors level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) Preferred Experience: Strong communication skills Ability to build coalitions Strong leadership practices Engaged Leader NOTE: Grandfathering Provision – All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse IV: Scope: Executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. Education: Masters degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR Masters degree in a related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and 3 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV. Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Dimensions: Leadership. Leads health care delivery by leveraging evidence-based practices, industry-leading research, and innovative care models. Drives a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the program or service level. Business Acumen. Transforms health care by implementing new processes, technology, informatics, and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level. Inspiring an Industry-Leading Culture. Employs an industry leading, shared decision-making culture. Cultivates a diverse and inclusive workforce that serves Veterans, families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust, cultural competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the program or service level. Communication and Relationship Management. Directs the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional organizational values, beliefs and practices at the program or services level. Professional and Social Responsibility. Operationalizes a culture of holistic care, health advocacy and health equity. Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the program or service level. Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans and the community. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Testing Designated Position: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. As a VA employee, you will enjoy a truly rewarding career, comprehensive benefits, competitive pay and other generous perks to help build a fuller, more balanced life for you and your family. Strong starting salary, career growth, and recognition VA Nurse Locality Pay System (LPS) – ensuring our nurses are paid competitive rates within each local labor market VA Special Rates – providing regular performance-based increases and potential accelerated increases for outstanding performance Premium Pay – including overtime, Saturday, Sunday, holiday, on-call and night work Incentive Awards – including Superior Performance Awards, Special Contribution Awards, VA Honor Awards, and Non-Monetary Recognition. 8 hours of annual leave (Vacation Time) accrual for full-time Nurses and Nurse Anesthetists for each full biweekly pay period. (The highest leave accrual of any VA employee!) 4 hours of Sick leave accrual per full biweekly pay period. 12 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave Organ Donor Leave Military Leave Disabled Veteran Leave Health Insurance – pre-taxed premiums and a variety of plans to choose from, ranging from traditional HMO/PPO plans with low co-pays, to High- Deductible plans. Single, spouse and family plans available. Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) -Tax deferred retirement savings account that is similar to private sector 401(k). You may be eligible for an automatic 1% agency contribution, plus a 4% matching agency contribution. Flexible Spending Accounts – medical & dependent care Life Insurance – with available additions for family coverage Long Term Care Insurance Leave Sharing Program Holidays – 11 paid Federal holidays each year Child Care Subsidies Employee Assistance Program Wellness and Physical Fitness Programs Transit Subsidies Continuing Education Opportunities Based on the needs of the organization, employees selected may be called on to perform duties at other locations within VA St. Cloud. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.