The Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) has the overall responsibility for the supervision, administrative management, direction of the service, and ensuring SPS functions follow all regulatory mandates. Forecasts, plans, develops, and manages the SPS program. Manages SPS personnel and serves as liaison between SPS and other departments. Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships, coordinates, and resolves problems, and ensures cooperation with other programs and services.

Duties

Boise and the larger metro area is home to Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and start-ups, universities, military and nonprofit organizations and many more. Boise is a vibrant and energetic community with friendly faces and a beautiful backdrop. Dining and nightlife, recreation and adventure, and arts and culture are all in the heart of downtown Boise and the metro area. The duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the following: Executes leadership by identifying and maintaining SPS/lnfection control standards for the practice of all clinical services at the medical center such as surgical, dental. and medicine. Assesses the environment, analyzes trends, transmits data, communicates ideas, develops and implements policies, initiates programs and systems and collaborates in the management of resources. Possesses knowledge in areas of patient care practices, microbiology, asepsis, disinfection/ sterilization process, adult education, infectious diseases, communication, program administration and epidemiology. Collaborates with all departments within the medical center, particularly with Patient Care Services, Gastrointestinal (GI), Operative Care, Specialty Care and Infection Control. Responsible for meeting all performance goals including: quality of care standards, productivity targets, efficiency and process improvement measures, patient/customer satisfaction, accessibility to care, and budgetary targets. Responsible and oversees the Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) Program at the medical center which includes the tracking of RME equipment, maintaining Standard Operating Procedures of all RME, sterilization/decontamination, processing and packaging of surgical instruments, equipment and sterile reusable supplies for use in clinics, wards, operating rooms and special diagnostic areas of the health care system. Assesses educational needs of clinical staff in the use of RME and implements an educational plan to meet those needs. Demonstrates expertise and comprehensive understanding of the decontamination/sterilization process as well as infection control practice issues. This role involves clinical administrative, research and educational components which impact patients and health care personnel throughout the facility. Ensures practices are consistent with the external standards of Joint Commission, Association of Peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN), Occupation and Safety Health Administration (OSHA), Federal Drug Administration (FDA), Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (MMI) and internal standards such VHA Directives, Heath System Memorandums, clinical practice guidelines and performance measures for preventative health and chronic disease management. Assesses, plans, and evaluates the processes and daily operations of SPS programs. Maintains active memberships on organizational committees as applicable. Follows up on sentinel events and/or other adverse events; reviews access, External Peer Review Program (EPRP), performance measures, and other data for trends and early intervention; formulates follow-up plans with Service Chiefs/Managers and with other services as necessary. In collaboration with leadership, oversees and promotes Joint Commission (JC) and the Office of Inspector General's (OIG) standards to ensure compliance and continual readiness throughout the Division. 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, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm or 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: A recruitment or relocation incentive may be available for a highly qualified applicant. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: 1-3 years of experience leading and managing teams involved with SPS/infection control standards for reusable medical equipment/programs. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 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: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); Reaching above shoulder; Walking and standing (6 hours); Hearing (aid may be permitted).

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.

Contacts

• Address Boise VA Medical Center 500 West Fort Street Boise, ID 83702 US
• Name: Vincent Rhyne
• Phone: 206-658-4253
• Email: [email protected]