The Patient Safety Manager (PSM) is responsible for developing and managing the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) Patient Safety Program in accordance with regulatory agencies, VHA, Network and facility requirements.

Duties

The Patient Safety Manager (PSM) RN assumes the following major duties and responsibilities: The PSM is responsible for developing and managing the VA San Diego Healthcare System Patient Safety Program in accordance with regulatory agencies, VHA, Network and facility requirements; Serves as subject matter expert for patient safety and as such provides advice and support to the medical center staff, directs the development and maintenance of programs designed to improve patient safety at all levels within the healthcare delivery system, and provides professional management, educational assistance and policy development and implementation guidance in the area of patient safety; Works closely with the Chief and Deputy Chief of QMS to ensure an effective Patient Safety Program including assessing and monitoring organization compliance with professional standards of practice, The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals, develops educational programs to meet identified gaps and staff educational needs, and to develop, implement, and evaluate processes designed to promote patient safety and improvement initiatives through activities such as tracers, patient safety and environment of care rounds and clinical review; Responsible for monitoring, tracking and trending patient safety reports and works collaboratively with staff to ensure safe patient care processes/practices are implemented and sustained; Responsible for implementation of the Patient Safety Program in terms of patient incident review, analysis, and report preparation/submission; Facilitates and serves as consultants to staff on Root Cause Analysis, Healthcare Failure Mode Effect Analysis, and performance improvement teams; Conducts scheduled patient safety rounds with Facility Leadership and is responsible for reporting to and updating the Medical Center Director on issues of safety concerns; Participates in the development of innovative, evidence-based approaches to the establishment, enhancement, modification, and/or improvement of care with a focus on patient safety; Assesses and monitors organizational compliance with professional standards of practice and works to ensure VHA Patient Safety Advisories/Alerts/Notices and The Joint Commission sentinel event alerts are communicated to and implemented by the appropriate medical center staff; Ensures timely submission of completed action items to the National Center for Patent Safety Recall and Alert Database as well as the Patient Safety Assessment Tools surveys. Patient Safety activities encompass both inpatient and outpatient care, includes all healthcare specialties and are integrated into the facility's Patient Safety Program; Collaborates with the service chiefs, program directors and others in planning, designing, integrating, implementing, modifying and administering the Patient Safety Program. The PSM develops strategies to disseminate "lessons learned" to appropriate staff throughout the organization; Demonstrates knowledge of current concepts, principles and tools of performance improvement and internal and external accreditation/regulatory standards specific to patient safety and organizational improvement; Participates on facility and VISN committees/workgroups designed to promote patient safety, identify opportunities for program enhancement, develop and implement recommendations for program enhancement, and promote safety program awareness; Serves as the facility liaisons to the National Center for Patient Safety and are members of designated Councils and Committees as required by national guidance or facility charters; Demonstrates outstanding communication skills, acting as an advocate for improving quality patient care, healthcare outcomes, and healthcare delivery systems in support of VHA goals and initiatives at the local, VISN and national levels; Coordinates and provides Just-in-Time Training to staff assigned to conduct Root Cause Analysis activities; serves as advisor for all RCA facilitators, including Aggregate Reviews and HFMEAs; tracks all RCA action plans to closure, and reports status to Executive Leadership; Plans, develops and conducts education and training programs related to patient safety and related quality management topics; Participates in regulatory surveys as assigned; Participates in the Continuous Readiness Program (mock tracers, mock surveys, etc.) which includes preparation for The Joint Commission and other regulatory reviews; Serves on multidisciplinary healthcare councils, committees, teams and/or workgroups and applies sound principles in meeting facility priorities, organizational goals, VISN and VHA healthcare system mission, vision, core values/characteristics, and strategic plans & Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 07:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available 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. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12603812. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Preferred Experience: 1. Current experience in Patient Safety. 2. Current experience with Patient Safety initiatives including Root Cause Analysis, National Patient Safety Goals and Proactive Risk Assessment. 3. Experience with data extraction, display (statistical tools), analysis, and report preparation. 4. Demonstrated ability to successfully facilitate interdisciplinary teams with proven results. 5. One year current experience with The Joint Commission standards related to patient safety and the survey process. 6. Experience in Quality Management /Performance Improvement. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which include light lifting (under 15 pounds) and light carrying (under - 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (1-3 hours), standing (1-8 hours), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 and hearing (aid permitted), far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, emotional/mental stability, keyboarding (1-8 hours), viewing computer screen (4-8 hours), sitting (1-8 hours), and tasks listed will be performed intermittently over the course of the scheduled tour of duty. Reasonable accommodation may be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties/functions of the position.

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 San Diego VA Medical Center 3350 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 92161 US
• Name: Ruben Cabral
• Email: [email protected]