The Deputy Associate Director for Patient Care Services (DADPCS), Kansas City Veterans Administration Medical Center (KCVAMC) reports directly to the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS) provides coverage and is the spokesperson for nursing in the absence of the ADPCS. This assignment is not to exceed 120 days. Travel/Lodging/Per Diem: Authorized, if selectee were external to KCVAMC or do not reside in the reasonable commuting distance.

Duties

The VA Heartland Network (VISN 15) is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and is one of 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). VISN 15 functions as the responsible structure for planning, budgeting, and service delivery in the provision of healthcare to Veterans within the geographic region. VISN 15 spans a geographic area of 162,207 square miles across six states and is actively involved in providing health care for over 360,000 Veterans. The Deputy Associate Director for Patient Care Services (DADPCS) has responsibility for ensuring the continuous and timely availability of quality nursing services. S/he provides senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative operations within nursing as directed by the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS). The DADPCS has overall management of nursing practice regardless of line-authority within the facility. The DADPCS is the catalyst for the integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of patient-centered and organizational goals. S/he champions a High Reliability Organization 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. The Kansas City VAMC is a Level 1B [major interdisciplinary teaching facility with service-lines serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients, with a Level III Emergency Department, and multiple community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC). There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co-morbidities. Home-Based Primary nursing care is also provided.] The DADPCS is a dynamic, highly innovative and motivated senior leader with experience in addressing complex system issues who contributes to the advancement of the nursing profession. S/he represents nursing at senior department/medical staff committees. The DADPCS works collaboratively to address issues across the healthcare system. The DADPCS holds self and others accountable for mutual professional expectations and outcomes and helps to educate patient care team members on the financial implications of patient care decisions. S/he participates in and fully supports workforce and succession planning, and employment decisions. The DADPCS supports efforts to promote systems-thinking amongst all levels of staff across the health care system to involve nurses and other staff in decisions that affect their practice to improve employee engagement, performance, and staff satisfaction and retention. The DADPCS promotes a healthy work environment through shared decision-making, sustaining a spirit of inquiry, and an academic environment. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 7:30 a.m. CST - 4:00 p.m. CST Telework: AD- Hoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Travel/Lodging/Per Diem: Authorized, if selectee were external to KCVAMC or do not reside in the reasonable commuting distance.

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 the appropriate State-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). 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: Minimum of 6 - 10 years successful nursing practice with 5 years progressive leadership positions in nursing and patient care services with broad program mission, scope and complexity. Experience at the executive nurse leadership level Advanced understanding of clinical operations, patient flow and efficient use of resources Documented experience in data analysis for evaluation and improvement of performance metrics. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse V - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN (or a Bachelor's degree in a related field) and approximately 5-6 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree (preferred) in nursing or related field and appropriate basic or advanced certification desired, and approximately 4-5 years of nursing practice/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.

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 Kansas City VA Medical Center 4801 Linwood Boulevard Kansas City, MO 64128 US
• Name: Patricia Nwachukwu
• Phone: (816) 223-5221
• Email: [email protected]