The RN will serve as the Associate Chief Nursing - VA Community Clinics at Lebanon VA Medical Center.

Duties

The ACNS executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines, influence organizational mission and health care, and responsibility for outcomes. Then incumbent is responsible for administrative duties for their assigned nursing units/programs. Functions as an administrator, educator, and consultant utilizing management theory in collaboration with VA Community Clinic Care line and other services. The incumbent must establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of medical center personnel and relate effectively with customers, families, and the community, as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels. Key relationships with staff are needed to: (1) Assist nurse managers (NMs) and advanced practitioners to carry out the functions and activities expected of them, (2) Contribute ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of nursing, (3) Assist in policy-making activities as related to customer service and the overall functioning of administrative and clinical programs, and (4) Collaborate with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. Assesses, plans, and evaluates the processes and daily operations, collaborating with the Medical Director or Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) to design and implement interdisciplinary programs within the service and medical center. Provides administrative oversight for areas of responsibility. Responds to internal and external communications, maintaining knowledge of and communicating standards of nursing practice and patient care, and developing systems to enhance overall operations and communications within the service. Follows up on sentinel events and/or other adverse events. Reviews reports, performance measures, and other data for trends and early intervention; formulates follow-up plans with the service and other services as necessary. Provides executive leadership and direct supervision to the nurse managers. Responsible for assessing and recommending the allocation of human and materiel resources, in determining staffing levels using Nursing Hours per Patient Day (NHPPD) or other models, managing overtime, and plays a significant role in the recruitment and retention of nursing staff. Develops management standard operating procedures. Oversees RN Proficiency System and Nurse Professional Standards Board (NPSB) responsibilities. Ensures processes are in place for continued accreditation readiness and participate in rounds to survey nursing units. Maintains content of professional documents such as scopes for RNs for procedures beyond basic education, and scopes of care and practice for each nursing unit. Prepares recurring professional reports. Works towards achievement of high quality, safety, and cost effective, evidence-based outcomes on a continual journey of a high reliability organization. Collaborates with both administrative and clinical services to monitor quality and safety within the service and medical center. Applies clinical performance improvement methods, collects outcome data related to policy, procedure, and regulatory compliance and in collaboration with management, initiates performance improvement monitoring projects. Utilizes data and comparative analytical processes in recommending design and implementation of innovative programs to improve service excellence, customer satisfaction, and compliance to patient care and regulatory standards. Reports directly to the Associate Director, Patient Care Services (AD-PCS)/Nurse Executive and provides coverage in their absence, as designated. 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: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Ad-hoc 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

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 or more years of management experience, clinical experience in primary care, family practice and expertise in clinic operations are all 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 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: The position may require long periods of sitting through meetings and/or at the computer. Visibility at each of the VA Community clinic locations is expected on a routine basis; estimated travel expectation is 50-75%.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 South Lincoln Avenue Lebanon, PA 17042 US
• Name: Melanie Johnson
• Phone: (412) 822-2048
• Email: [email protected]