The Chief, Sterile Processing Service (SPS) is a registered nurse who executes position responsibilities that demonstrates leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of SPS programs, duties, and initiatives. Duties will be performed primarily in the SPS Department including sterile processing, decontamination, and distribution but may be required throughout the facility as needed.

Duties

As Chief, SPS, the incumbent is designated as the primary point of contact to work with all services from which patient care medical/surgical supply inventory, instruments, and equipment are received, processed packaged, and distributed. Incumbent is responsible for the planning, direction, and management of all SPS programs to include full understanding of inventory management systems serving as the technical expert and focal point for all those programs. Incorporates evidenced based practice into decisions, policies, and processes. The duties of this position are highly specialized and require an in-depth knowledge of overall SPS. Much of the work required is time sensitive and complex in nature having a direct and immediate impact on health care delivery. Responsibilities include management of three distinct and physically separated units of Supply Processing & Distribution: (1) Decontamination - this unit is solely responsible for the collection and receipt of all used soiled supplies, instruments, or equipment. The knowledge to determine specific methods for cleaning, disinfecting, or pre- sterilizing complex diagnostic equipment and medical apparatus is critical; (2) Sterile Preparation - this unit is responsible for assembly, packaging, and terminal sterilization of all trays, sets and packs for use through the Medical Center to include the Operating Room; (3) Distribution - this unit encompasses the physical inventory of medical/surgical supplies and equipment. Responsible for management and accountability of all medical equipment directly assigned to SPS on an Equipment Inventory Listing (EIL) for use and distribution throughout the Medical Center including all clinics and wards. Incumbent manages assigned medical equipment via a tracking system detailing equipment availability and preventive maintenance compliance. Forecasts, plans, develops, and submits non-expendable equipment requests to maintain assigned EIL. Responsible for review, removal, corrective action, and reporting of all property and product affected through material alerts and recalls. Assumes responsibility to assure that all reusable medical equipment (RME) is properly set up, cleaned, and reprocessed as well as all end users competency to handle and reprocess RME. The incumbent conducts continuous functional surveys for the development of quality and economy of operations, as well as continuous formalized training programs to ensure compliance with mandatory training and/or certification requirements. Incumbent is required to be certified and maintain that certification as a Certified Registered Medical Supply Technician. He/she serves as advisor and consultant to management both within the Medical Center as well as other outside facilities by exercising sound management concepts, practices, and control of all SPS processes. Incumbent is called upon frequently to participate in special studies, pilot programs or VA activities which may have government-wide significance. Incumbent provides direct supervision to employees performing a variety of duties supporting the SPS program at the Medical Center. Those responsibilities include development/review of performance standards, writing position descriptions, evaluating work performance, hears/resolves complaints, effects minor disciplinary measures/reprimands, warning, etc., approves leave, identifies developmental and training needs of employees, ensures continuing education requirements are met where required to maintain certification; also interviews candidates for positions within the section, recommends appointments, promotions, awards and/or reassignments. Incumbent is responsible for the oversight of all Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) to include critical, semi-critical and non-critical items. He/she will assure that appropriate Standard Operating Procedures and competencies are maintained by appropriate management officials in areas where RME is used and/or reprocessed. He/she will assure appropriate quality assurance programs are in place throughout SPS and all areas that reprocess and use RME through the regular use SPS self-assessment tool. 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, 0800-1630 Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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: Two (2) years of leadership experience preferred; Sterilization Certification or obtain within 6 months of hire; 5 years of surgical and sterile processing experience preferred. 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: This position requires visual acuity, including ability to distinguish colors, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires a combination of walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, bending, pulling, and pushing. The position requires wearing personal protective equipment in a warm environment for periods of up to two (2) hours. Pushing of carts weighing between 50 and 100 pounds may be required. The incumbent is exposed to contaminated materials and sharp objects. Use of fingers, both hands, raising arms above shoulder height is required. Standing for periods of up to two (2) hours is required.

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 James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard Altoona, PA 16602 US
• Name: Esperanza Obinyan
• Phone: (610) 384-7711
• Email: [email protected]