The Associate Chief Nurse (Community Living Center) reports to the Associate Director for Patient and Nursing Services/Chief Nurse Executive.This is a Full-time position at 40 hours per week.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Responsibilities of the Associate Chief Nurse (Community Living Center) include, but are not limited to the following description: The Associate Chief Nurse has the oversight responsibility for the provision of timely and continuous high quality and safe nursing care delivered to residents in the Community Living Center. In collaboration with other leaders in Community Living Center (CLC) and Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC), he/she is accountable for ensuring high-quality, efficient, timely care. The Associate Chief Nurse works collaboratively with the Clinical Service Chiefs, Administrative Service Chiefs, and Nursing Leadership to achieve VA Maine Healthcare System and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) strategic goals and initiatives. The Associate Chief Nurse has oversight for CLC SAIL metrics, regulatory visits (i.e. Long-Term Care Institute), and Minimum Data Sets (MDS). The Associate Chief Nurse is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a plan for the provision of nursing care, treatment and services to residents in the CLC. Such a plan should create a professional practice environment that fosters excellence in nursing, evidence based practice, staff recruitment and retention, nursing research and scholarly inquiry as well as customer satisfaction. Provides leadership skills to develop and mentor a highly effective diverse workforce, to improve overall health care to achieve performance measures and to support strategic planning initiatives. Responsible for initiating and participating in interdisciplinary projects and committees with the aim of improving outcomes in the management of complex patient care or the systems and process of the organization/service. Demonstrates exceptional communication skills and role models transformational leadership skills. Provides direct supervision to Nurse Managers in the Community Living Center to include: Togus Springs (Hospice), Patriot Place (Dementia), Veterans' Village (Skilled/Long Stay), and Independence Way (Skilled Rehab). Responsible for implementing a staffing model that meets standards, is cost effective, and adheres to VHA Staffing Methodology. The Associate Chief Nurse supports the VA Performance Management System through accountability of assigned measures. Provides a quality practice environment which promotes patient safety, evidence based practice and ongoing system improvement initiatives. Involved in strategic planning, resource allocation and program and policy development related to professional practices. Ensures ongoing compliance with Accreditation Standards. Works effectively within an interdisciplinary framework and has excellent communication skills with staff at all levels of the VA and with Veterans, their families and/or significant others. 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: Full-Time, Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: Not Authorized Telework/Virtual/Remote Work: Not Authorized Relocation, Recruitment, Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or Travel Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service. The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments based on the candidate's education and experience. For internal selectees being promoted, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.

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 the appropriate State-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). 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. 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 visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as employment conditions.

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 Togus VA Medical Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: Nicole Bulowski
• Phone: 207-623-8411 X3444
• Email: [email protected]