The Associate Chief Nurse is responsible for overall leadership for nursing care practice throughout Montana VA Health Care System which includes both the Substance Use Disorder & Post Traumatic Stress Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs & Outpatient Mental Health. This position has responsibility for ensuring safe high quality nursing care is delivered to patients.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Responsible for administrative functions of their assigned nursing units/programs; 2. Responsible and accountable for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines, influence organizational mission and health care; 3. Functions as an administrator, educator, and consultant utilizing management theory in collaboration with Patient Care Service and other services; 4. Establishes and maintains 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; 5. Assists nurse managers and advanced practitioners to carry out the functions and activities expected of them; 6. Contributes ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of nursing organization-wide; 7. Assist in policy-making activities as related to customer service and the overall functioning of administrative and clinical programs; 8. Collaborates with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care; 9. Responsible for overall leadership for nursing care practice throughout MTVAHCS which includes both the Substance Use Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs and Outpatient Mental Health; 10. Responsible for ensuring safe high quality nursing care is delivered to patients of the MTVAHCS; 11. Ensures the nursing staff provides competent nursing care based on established nursing standards of practice; 12. Works with their Nurse Managers to ensure annul education and competencies for each area they oversee are completed and in accordance with policy and directives; 13. Member of the Mental Health Dyad and works closely with the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health to implement and promote the model of care for Mental Health; 14. Experience in addressing highly complex system issues and supporting efforts to enculturate problem solving amongst all levels of staff across the Mental Health Program in order to improve employee engagement, performance, staff retention and employee satisfaction; 15. Possesses a sense of team and a collaborative framework in addressing issues; 16. Experience with VHA policy and regulations, the Joint Commission (TJC), Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), VA review processes such as System of Ongoing Assessment and Review Strategy (SOARS), and Office of Inspector General Reviews (OIG) and other agencies such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Montana Board of nursing, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); 17. Responsible for recruitment, hiring and supervision of nursing staff assigned to these areas and programs, fiscal management, and safety compliance; 18. Works effectively within an interdisciplinary framework and has excellent communication skills with staff at all levels of the VA and with families and veterans 19. Responsible for reviewing Functional Statements, give expert advice to the non-PCS services on nursing scope of practice and duties, information and training on Nursing s processes and requirements, competency assessment and training, and acts as a general subject matter expert; 20. Participates in decision making and policy development that influences the practice of nursing throughout the MTVAHCS, i.e., across all Care Lines and at all sites; 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 7:30am-4:00pm 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: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), 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 the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited 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); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (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 to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). 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. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse IV: Scope: 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 and influence organizational mission and health care. Education: Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and 3 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Dimensions: Leadership. Leads health care delivery by leveraging evidence-based practices, industry-leading research, and innovative care models. Drives a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the program or service level. Business Acumen. Transforms health care by implementing new processes, technology, informatics, and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level. Inspiring an Industry-Leading Culture. Employs an industry leading, shared decision-making culture. Cultivates a diverse and inclusive workforce that serves Veterans, families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust, cultural competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the program or service level. Communication and Relationship Management. Directs the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional organizational values, beliefs and practices at the program or services level. Professional and Social Responsibility. Operationalizes a culture of holistic care, health advocacy and health equity. Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the program or service level. Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans and the community. Preferred Experience: 3 years of Behavioral Health Experience 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 potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. In the performance of duties, the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Contacts

• Address Fort Harrison VA Medical Center 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636 US
• Name: Wanda Sato
• Phone: 406-447-7938
• Email: [email protected]