This position is located at the Lebanon VA Medical Center. The registered nurse serves as a Quality Improvement Specialist within Quality Management.

Duties

The Quality Improvement (QI) Specialist functions within the Quality Management Section of the Office of the Medical Center Director and assists the Director of Quality Management in conducting aspects of the Medical Center's Quality Improvement. The incumbent demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. Services provided are complex and widespread (and not limited to) including acute psychiatry, medical services, surgical services, outpatient clinic, Emergency Department, long term care, substance abuse treatment, and Residential Rehab. The incumbent exercises judgment in determining which guidelines are applicable to a set situation, including Medical Center Policies, The Joint Commission (TJC), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), College of American Pathologists (CAP), and the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The Quality Improvement Specialist monitors, analyzes, trends and reports on various performance monitors (SAIL). The Specialist provides staff education on assigned indicators, measures, and monitors. The QI Specialist acts as the facilities Falls Prevention Coordinator duties, providing leadership and assuming continuing responsibility for the development, implementation, coordination, maintenance, and evaluation of the Falls Prevention Program at the facility level. This includes integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities. The incumbent ensures policies are accurate and modified as needed according to standards/regulatory updates. The incumbent must possess a skillset for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Additional duties include, but are not limited to: 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. Reviews reports, performance measures, and other data for trends and early intervention Formulates follow-up plans with the service and other services as necessary. Works towards achievement of high quality, safety, and cost effective, evidence-based outcomes on a continual journey of a high reliability organization. Provides leadership and direct supervision to assigned areas within the Office of Quality Management, to include, but not limited to: Patient Safety Specialists, Teams Training Specialists, Controlled Substance/Medical Center Policy Coordinators, Falls/Safe Patient Handling Coordinators, and Program Support Assistants. Functions as the Acting Director, Quality Management on an as needed basis. Performs 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, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Available with supervisor approval Telework: Ad-hoc with supervisor approval 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. Preferred Experience: At least 5 years' nursing experience, prior experience in clinical quality management, experience with medical record reviews and data entry, and experience facilitating improvement teams. 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 and no additional nursing experience. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to a Nurse I, Level I; OR, a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) and no additional nursing experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and two years of professional nursing practice, one of which is a year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I Level II; OR, a BSN with one year of professional nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level II; OR, a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) and no additional nursing experience; OR, a Master's degree in a related field and a BSN with no additional nursing experience. Nurse II - A BSN with two years of professional nursing experience, one of which is a year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level III; OR, an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, level III; OR, a Master's degree in a related field and BSN with one year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level III; OR, a Doctorate Degree in Nursing (DNP) and no professional nursing experience; OR, a Doctorate degree in a related field and BSN with no professional nursing experience. Nurse III - An MSN with two years of specialized nursing experience, one which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR, a Master's degree in a related field and BSN with two years of specialized nursing experience, one which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR, a DNP with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR, a Doctorate degree in a related field and BSN with with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. 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, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position may require 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.

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]