The Chief Nurse (CN) Registered Nurse (RN) for the Operating Room is assigned to the Clinical Directorate of Surgery at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, Illinois. FHCC is a VA and DoD dually integrated healthcare center providing care services to Veterans, Active-Duty Military Personnel, and their beneficiaries, including outpatient pediatric services.

Duties

The Chief Nurse provides executive leadership and direct supervision, to include but not limited to CRNA in the direct management team of the Operating Room, Surgical Services, Pulmonary Department, Endoscopy and Procedure Rooms to include Bronchoscopy / Transesophageal echocardiogram / Cardioversions procedures. The Chief Nurse is a direct liaison, consultant, and leader for all matters pertaining to anesthesia in the Operating Room. Major Duties and Responsibilities Involved in the policy decision-making with top management; responsible for completion of all necessary "staff work" leading to a final decision. Actions and decisions are supported and guided by Public Laws, VA Directives, OPM Regulations, Executive Orders, VA General Council and an extensive knowledge of the economic, legal, and professional standards and practices. Provides executive input in the strategic planning, budget, mission, operational planning, and policy development for local and network efforts. Utilizes current trends and relevant theories in an analytical framework to design/modify, implement, and measure integrated programs and activities to achieve clinical and administrative goals of the medical center and/or network. Evaluates outcomes against strategic priorities. Demonstrates substantial and continuous responsibility for directing and managing an integrated program. Serves as a consultant to review materials, programs, and projects produced by assigned personnel and interdisciplinary groups. Demonstrates grade-appropriate, consistent critical thinking skills. Takes appropriate disciplinary actions when employees do not adhere to safe work practices. Manages patient care through supervisors and by coordinating patient care resources. Makes rounds in the clinical areas as appropriate as consultant to staff and to ensure safe delivery of patient care. Aggregates data and participates in the budget process and management conservation of resources to plan for current, emerging, and future resource requirements (financial, human, materiel and/or informational). Provides leadership in determining allocation of resources (financial, human, material and/or informational) based on patient care systems that produce high quality outcomes. Manages the resources (financial, human, materiel and/or informational) of a complex program or service in a manner which applies professional standards of practice in the most effective, efficient method resulting in favorable outcomes. Provides a leadership role in professional, community, and governmental bodies that shape health care policy, contributing to the development/improvement of the healthcare delivery system and better patient outcomes, documentation and fiscal accountability. Interprets Medical Center and Nursing Service policies and procedures clearly and concisely to foster interdisciplinary staff understanding and collaboration. Functions as a liaison between service and the medical and support staff in their assigned areas. Develops, implements, and maintains formal and informal communication systems with a wide constituency of colleagues. Solicits and synthesizes input from all levels of staff and addresses issues and barriers that impact on quality of care, productivity, and professional development. Assumes leadership within the professional through involvement in professional organizations and the academic community. 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 7:00am - 3:30pm Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not 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. Chief Nurse preferred qualifications: Have at least a Master Degree in Nursing or related health-care field; a Master of Science in Nursing via a Bridge Program (no BSN required); OR a Doctoral Degree in Nursing or related health-care field with a BSN and Master Degree in Nursing or a related health care field; Graduation from a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs; Have at least (3) three years of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist experience, preferred; Have a minimum of four (4) years' experience in progressively responsible leadership assignments, with demonstrated supervisory/administrative competencies in directing change and effectively managing human resources. This may be demonstrated through experience as Assistant Nurse Manager / Supervisor, Clinical Nurse Leader, or Nurse Manager (or equivalent) at a larger, more complex healthcare facility; Have written and spoken English language proficiency; Have and maintain current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS); Certification or Recertification by The National Board on Certification of Nurse Anesthesia, NBCRNA; License as a Registered Nurse and Specialty license as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, preferred; Certified or Board eligible for certification as CRNA; maintains re-certification every two years; controlled substance and DEA license required; Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with multiple service lines and disciplines; Proven ability to facilitate group problem solving, along with previous experience leading and/or facilitating performance improvement projects, teams, and groups; Demonstrated computer literacy and skill in the use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, VISO and Excel; Excellent organizational, communication, writing, and time management skills; Demonstrated ability in data tracking, management, analysis, and feedback of results; Proven ability to utilize sound judgment in making performance management and continuous readiness decisions; Demonstrated ability to accurately implement policies, regulations, standards of care and standards of practice; Ability to work variable and flexible tours to meet program demands. 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. Working Conditions: To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the ability to perform job-related duties which require word processing, computer keyboard typing, computer screen viewing, working with data in Excel and Access, PowerPoint presentations, answering/placing telephone calls, filing, note taking and prolonged sitting up to 4-6 hours. A health examination must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Occupational Health Clinic policy. There will be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids.

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 Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Antionette Sneed-Clay
• Email: [email protected]