The Deputy Associate Director, Patient Care Services (DAPDCS) serves as a member of the Associate Director, Patient Care Services' (ADPCS) management team and has 24/7 direct line authority, responsibility and accountability for assigned areas and scope of nursing practice.

Duties

The DADPCS reports to the ADPCS and is accountable for providing primary support and assistance to the ADPCS and in her/his absence, assumes the acting role to ensure continuity in the interpretation and execution of standards and response to issues and has the authority and responsibility for decision making. The incumbent, through collaboration with the ADPCS provides assistance in guiding the overall management of the practice for all areas aligned under the ADPCS to include nursing and the nursing profession. The breadth and scope of the DADPCS role extends into all major practice areas, e.g., clinical, administrative, research, and education. The DADPCS assists with the supervision of the all staff aligned under ADPCS, sharing responsibility for the oversight and management of personnel aligned under Sterile Processing, Associate Chief Nursing Services-Outpatient Services (ACNS_OP), and Associate Chief Nursing Services-Extended Care (ACNS-EC) and all other clinics/areas. The incumbent will ensure that subordinate personnel comply with generally accepted standards of clinical practice. This includes the authority to accept, amend, or reject the work of subordinates. Has continuing responsibility for all the following functions: (1) Planning work to be accomplished by subordinates, setting priorities and preparing schedules for completion of work; (2) Assigning work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and the requirements of the assignments, and the capabilities of subordinates; (3) Evaluating the performance of subordinates; development, administration, and validation of initial and annual competencies for staff (4) Making recommendations for appointments, advancements or reassignments of subordinates; (5) Giving advice, counsel, or instruction to subordinate personnel on work and administrative matters; (6) Hearing and resolving complaints of subordinates and referring more serious complaints not resolved to higher level executive; (7) Recommending and/or taking disciplinary action where appropriate; and (8) Identifying developmental and training needs of subordinates and providing or making provision for such development and training (VA Handbook 5007, Part III, Chapter 8). The incumbent ensures that staff provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the acceptable standard of care which includes systematic data gathering, assessment, appropriate judgment, and evaluation of human responses. Other duties as assigned 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, 08:00am-04:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: May be 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: MSN or Master's in related field with BSN (MSN required for Nurse IV) or MSN from Bridge Program (no BSN required) 4-5 years of experience or Doctoral Degree in Nursing or related field 3-4 years of experience with current basic or advanced board certification or within 1 year of accepting the position. Experience as a nurse leader with documentation of a minimum of two years current supervisory experience. Experience and knowledgeable in all areas of nursing practice and staffing methodology, quality improvement, patient safety, and the execution of a High Reliability Organization (HRO). Experience in the aggregation of data, and knowledgeable in SAIL, Joint Commission, Long-term Care Institute, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation, OIG, and other regulatory agencies. Evaluations of performance as excellent or better. Experience in Local/VISN/National Partnership forums/collaboratives/committees. 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: Lifting up to 35·pounds for 8-12 hours, intermittently, moderate carrying (15-35 pounds) for 8 to 12 hours, intermittently, lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care, pulling for 8 to 12 hours intermittently, pushing for 8-12 hours, intermittently, reaching above the shoulders for 8-12 hours, intermittently, both hands required, walking 8-12 hours, intermittently, standing 8-12 hours intermittently, kneeling 8 to 12 hours, intermittently, repeated bending for 8-12 hours, intermittently, climbing and use of both legs and arms for 8-12 hours, intermittently, both legs required, near vision at 13 to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing aid permitted, twisting, simple grasp and fine manipulation.

Education

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN), or Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN) must be fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission On Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Verification of accreditation may be obtained from http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm or https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp

• If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
• If your school was accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the websites, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

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.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Contacts

• Address George H O'Brien Jr VA Medical Center 300 Veterans Boulevard Big Spring, TX 79720 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]