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The Chief Nurse position is responsible to the Executive Director for daily oversight and management of Quality and Safety (QS) resources assigned in medical center settings, including the Healthcare Centers (HCC) and Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The RN is responsible for planning, designing, integrating, implementing, modifying, and administering a Quality and Performance Management Program which assesses, evaluates, and continuously improve services to the Veteran population. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Preferred Experience: 2-3 years experience of cumulative experience in performance management or areas across Quality and Safety; accreditation management, risk management, patient safety, utilization management. Supervisory experience is a plus but not required. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse IV - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 4-5 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or related field and appropriate basic or advanced certification desired, and approximately 3-4 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. 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, and sitting. The incumbent may beexposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. In the performance of duties, the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Chief Nurse for Quality and Safety reports directly to the Executive Director and is accountable to the Associate Director Patient Care Services for Nursing specific practice and standards. The incumbent promotes quality improvement activities in collaboration with various services and individuals and suggests models for adaptation of implementation. The incumbent coordinates management policies and practices as they relate to quality improvement. Collaborates closely with Medical Center staff to examine and promote methods for achieving quality that may be new or applied in a different way.Duties include but are not limited to: Oversees the facility overall performance and quality programs to assure they are coherent and consistent with network and system-wide goals, mission, and strategic objectives. Supports the Environment of Care Management Program by completing scheduled training on safety, health, environmental and fire protection requirements related to their assigned tasks; following safe work practices and procedures, including the use of appropriate equipment, and any required Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE) item; recognizing and reporting unsafe and unhealthful conditions, initiating prompt corrective action within their authority, and promptly reporting work-related injuries or illnesses to supervisory personnel. Actively participates in the advancement of quality through contributions to knowledge development and education. Members and/or precepts staff and leaders. Challenges and holds leaders and staff accountable to maintain high standards, consistently submitting accurate documents/reports in a timely fashion. Creates and maintains processes that provide accurate and complete policies, procedures, standards, guidelines, and protocols while ensuring attention to detail. Necessary revision and review are completed in a timely fashion including a thorough clinical, technical, and grammatical review. Develops, conducts, and directs special studies and analyses of complex issues as assigned and interprets such studies for leadership. Evaluates accreditation standards and ensures that clinical practice and program policies/procedures are in compliance. Provides leadership in organizational committees, teams, or projects. Actively follows and supports the labor/management agreement. Collaborates with other Medical Center and VISN managers/leaders to ensure the availability of support needed to enable staff to pursue and achieve excellence in health care quality and outcomes. Aligns and integrates performance and quality management with leadership roles, strategic planning, and organizational culture, and mission. Leads effort in program areas to cascade organizational plans and goals. Facilitates the facility-wide reduction of variance in quality and the integration of performance improvement into the facility day-to-day operations and culture. Critical appraises variation for common and special causes, when possible, thereby supporting robust, data-driven, evidence-based quality improvement methodologies. Creates an environment of system-oriented, continuous performance and quality improvement, within which program effectiveness and quality is evaluated, and when necessary, initiates or promotes analysis, interventions and/or corrective actions. Facilitates the management of organizational change required to achieve patient safety and performance improvement goals, including identifying and facilitating resolution of obstacles to achieving these goals within a complex system. Initiates/leads quality improvement teams to collect data, analyze and evaluate data, implement change, and evaluate effectiveness of change interventions. Identify innovative or promising department/team performance and patient safety improvement activities and facilitate their facility wide deployment, as appropriate. 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 through Friday 0800-1630 Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Ad Hoc Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment/relocation incentive maybe approved for highly qualified applicants. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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