OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

Duties

The Associate Chief Nurse (ACN) for Behavioral Health Care provides executive nursing leadership and assumes continuing and substantial responsibility for the coordination and evaluation of integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission, vision, values and strategic priorities. The ACN is responsible for ensuring the delivery of nursing care to veteran patients and managing nursing personnel within the Behavioral Health Care programs at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. The ACN works directly with the Associate Director, Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive as well as with colleagues in Behavioral Health, Social Work, Psychology and other services. The Associate Chief Nurse has nursing oversight of Behavioral Health Care as well as collaborative programmatic oversight of Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) and other programs in Behavioral Health Care. A major component of the position involves collaboration in providing leadership for other health professionals in the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of comprehensive and long-term care programs. The ACN is responsible for the efficient and effective management of resources within the Behavioral Health Care programs. It is the responsibility of the ACN to assure that programs are in compliance with statutory law, accrediting organizations, and VHA regulations, policies, and procedures. The incumbent represents the Associate Director, Patient Care Services on service and system committees/task forces for administrative and clinical issues. The ACN collaborates with the Associate Director, Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive to develop goals and objectives that support the strategic plan, meet the needs of veteran patients, satisfy staff, and result in positive clinical and administrative outcomes. Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with incidental / occasional off tour and / or weekend hours. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Physical Requirements: The population of male and female Veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. 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.

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: A minimum of 10 years of professional nursing practice in progressively more responsible leadership assignments in clinical, administrative, educational and/or research areas. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with principles of cultural transformation. ANCC Certification Nursing Administration or applicable clinical expertise. Demonstrated ability to function autonomously seeking assistance and guidance appropriately. Demonstrated dynamic leadership skills with a high degree of personal and professional integrity and ethical behave 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.

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 Corporal Michael J Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3900 Woodland Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104 US
• Name: Christopher Schaeffer
• Phone: (717) 272-6621 X5373
• Email: [email protected]