The New Mexico VA Health Care System is seeking a Chief Nurse (Nurse IV), Staffing and Nursing Operations, to facilitate patient flow transactions to include direct and emergency patient admissions and/or transfers. Sign on bonus may be available!

Duties

Albuquerque is a gem of the Southwest that boasts relatively mild climate year-round, a vast array of outdoor activities including golfing, snow skiing, hiking, and bicycling. Albuquerque is home to largest hot air balloon event in the U.S., the annual Balloon Fiesta, due to its ideal climate and wind patterns. Albuquerque also boasts a growing film industry, art scene, and has many resorts and casinos to enjoy. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Responsible for administrative functions of their assigned nursing units/programs. Functions as an administrator, educator, and consultant utilizing management theory in collaboration with Patient Care Service and other services. Establishes and maintains effective relationships with all levels of medical center personnel and relate effectively with customers, families, and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels to perform the following: Facilitate patient flow transactions including direct and emergency patient admissions and transfers Assist and direct nurses, nurse managers and advanced practitioners to carry out the functions and activities expected of them, Provide executive input, ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of nursing organization-wide, Assist in policy-making activities as related to customer service and the overall functioning of administrative and clinical programs, and Collaborate with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. Direct responsibility/oversight for nursing within the areas Care Coordination, Nursing Officers of the Day (NOD), Clinical Outcomes and Staffing Methodology, Nurse Recruiters, Float Pool, Emergency Department, and the Health Aids/Screeners in Nursing Service. Assesses, plans, and evaluates the processes and daily operations of the designated units. In collaboration with the Chiefs for each area of care, designs and implements interdisciplinary programs within the service and medical center. Utilizes the Staffing Methodology Process for assessing and recommending the allocation of human and materiel resources, in determining staffing levels, managing overtime, and plays a significant role in the professional development of nurses, recruitment and retention of nursing staff. 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: 07:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday; additional time to support the mission as needed. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not 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: 2 years Emergency Room/Department experience 3-5 years management experience Knowledge of Staffing Methodology or comparable staffing model Experience with patient flow and bed management Case Management experience Experience with recruitment, retention, and outreach Knowledge of the National Patient Safety Goals as stated by Joint Commission Experience with quality safety (QS), quality management (QM), and quality assurance (QA) pertinent to nurse sensitive indicators and nurse competencies. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. 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 be exposed 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.

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 Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: Heidi Orehek
• Phone: 5055194348
• Email: [email protected]