The Associate Chief Nurse (ACN)- Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) provides senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative operations within nursing as directed by the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS). Responsible for ensuring the delivery of nursing care to Veteran patients and managing nursing personnel within GEC programs to include the Community Living Center (CLC) in Miles City, Montana, Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC), and Medical Foster Home.

Duties

Major Duties: Provides senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative operations within nursing as directed by the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS). Responsible for ensuring the delivery of nursing care to Veteran patients and managing nursing personnel within GEC programs to include the Community Living Center (CLC), Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC), and Medical Foster Home Collaborates with and provides leadership in the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive rehabilitation and CLC programs. Responsible for efficient and effective management of resources within GEC. Responsible for assessing and recommending the allocations of human and material resources, in determining staffing levels, managing overtime, and recruitment and retention of nursing staff. Provides a key leadership role in statewide management and supervision of patient care programs and manages nursing and ancillary personnel and resources within the service areas. Functions include planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and evaluating programs and outcomes. Provides attention to complex personnel management problems Participates in executive level decision making deliberations. Directs the integration of nursing and patient care activities in the mutual development and achievement of organizational goals and policy development Provides guidance and direction oversight for the development and implementation of established standards of nursing practice. Budgets, manages, justifies, and reconciles resources/funds appropriated to Patient Care Services and provides written request for funding when needed. Conducts and prepares needs assessments, collects, organizes, and analyzes complex data to arrive at sound and logical conclusions. Reviews EPRP, VERA reports, Performance Measures, and other data for trends and early intervention. Demonstrate excellent role modeling behaviors. Provides experience in project management, strategic planning, marketing, analytical and program development skills, evidence-based practice knowledge and application skills, excellent writing, reporting, speaking skills, and knowledge of accrediting standards. Ability to establish priorities, determine program objectives, and accomplish goals in a timely manner. Supports the integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of patient-centered and organizational goals. Champions a High Reliability Organization (HRO) with a culture of safety founded on a systems approach to developing evidence-based health care solutions based on prevention, not punishment, with collective mindfulness. Fosters a climate for practice that enhances job satisfaction through mutual responsibility productivity and quality improvement. Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members, including other program and service leaders at the facility and network. Collaborates to develop goals and objectives that support the strategic plan, meet the needs of the Veteran, and result in positive clinical and administrative outcomes. Assists the ADPCS with healthcare operations and the functions and activities expected of them. Contributes ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of nursing. Ensures the GEC program follows statutory law, accrediting organizations, and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) regulations, policies, and procedures. Preferred Experience: 5 years leadership and management experience. Experience in Geriatrics and Extended Care. 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 Hours vary between 6:00am-5:00pm Telework: Ad-Hoc per organization policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized

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.) Current active Driver's License 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting and turning. It requires repositioning patients and assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers. Mechanical devices when available are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care. The positions requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with the neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect him/herself from physically abusive patients.

Contacts

• Address Montana VA Health Care System 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]