Serves as Chief of Sterile Processing Services (SPS) at the Alexandria VA Health Care System in Alexandria, LA. The SPS team provides sterilization, processing, and distribution of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) to support VA staff in providing a full range of surgical/preoperative care and clinical support to Veterans. This is a high level leadership and management position.

Duties

This position is responsible for the accountability for the daily operations of the Sterile Processing Service, subject matter expert for industry leading standards in sterile processing and high level disinfection, supervisory oversight, delivery of clear communication and vision to team, executive leadership, and beyond the facility, participation in local, VISN, and national committees, workgroups and task forces to impact delivery of care and responding to inquiries and taskings from VISN and Central Office. Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: Contributes to the oversight of all supervision, administrative, management, and direction of SPS. Manages, directs, and adapts work to accomplish program goals and objectives. Meets new and changing program requirements. Plans and projects staffing needs and requirements. Serves as liaison between SPS and other departments. Performs a full range of supervisory duties, including assigning, planning and evaluating work, recommending awards, approving leave, identifying training needs, and resolving staff issues. Makes selections, assigns personnel, and provides direction to subordinate staff. Communicates effectively with subordinate employees and internal/external staff of varying backgrounds. Oversees all decontamination, sterilization, and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical RMD. Assures the availability of RMD for the medical center. Ensures all functions of SPS and the RMD program are functioning effectively, regardless of organizational alignment, including decontamination, preparation, case carts, distribution, proper procedures for cleaning of reusable equipment are implemented, etc. Ensures SPS infection control standards are incorporated into day-to-day operations. Functions as a technical authority. Ensures the activities of the MSTs are supervised and coordinated to accomplish all RMD reprocessing correctly. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance. Develops and recommends new or revised policies. Manages the training, documenting, and evaluation of staff. Analyzes current and future workforce requirements to determine competencies and skills needed. Works with servicing Human Resources Management Office in participating in all steps of the recruiting and hiring process to expeditiously recruit for vacant positions and to select qualified employees. Successfully transitions new hires into the position. Provides employees with feedback on performance informally on a regular basis. Appropriately identifies and addresses specific, performance-related deficiencies with the employee in a timely manner to ensure employee is given every opportunity to improve to a successful level of performance. Develops the ability of the subordinate staff and others, as appropriate, to perform and contribute to the organization through coaching, mentoring, providing ongoing feedback, and by granting opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods. Appropriately recognizes and rewards employee's contributions and performance in accordance with policy and within established timeframes. Works with the servicing Human Resources Management Office, as appropriate, to ensure that an employee's conduct deficiencies are addressed expeditiously. Ensures that subordinates complete all mandatory training on a timely basis. Meets the needs of customers using the ICARE values while supporting VA missions. Follow all relevant safety and health standards, local directives and other requirements. 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: 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

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: 2 years of Management Experience Sterile Processing Services Experience VA SPS certification prior to, but no later than 1 year after appointment. 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 Heavy lifting 45 pounds and over, Moderate lifting 15-44 pounds, Light lifting under 15 pounds, Heavy carrying 45 pounds and over, Moderate carrying 15-44 pounds, Light carrying under 15 pounds, Straight pulling 4 hours, Pulling hand over hand 8-12 hours, Pushing 8-12 hours, Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking 8-12 hours, Standing 8-12 hours, Kneeling 8-12 hours, Repeated bending 8-12 hours, Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Both eyes required, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Hearing (aid may be permitted), Hearing without aid, 20/40 vision in each with or without correction, and Emotional Stability.

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 Alexandria VA Medical Center 2495 Shreveport Highway Pineville, LA 71360 US
• Name: Deborah Pressley
• Phone: 828-318-7609
• Email: [email protected]