Summary

Serves as one of the facility's Patient Safety Managers - functioning as a clinical and program expert responsible for building and sustaining the facility's patient safety program. Leads Root Cause Analysis activities - trains staff on patient safety principles - and uses data-driven approaches to promote a culture of safety. Demonstrates leadership and ingenuity in translating national patient safety policy into effective local practice. Program outcomes can be broad - extending facility-wide.

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 than 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/13075665
• 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: Preferred candidates will have clinical leadership experience - with responsibility for staff oversight - mentorship - or program coordination
• A master's degree is preferred
• Experience applying process improvement methodologies (e.g. - Lean - Six Sigma) to clinical or patient safety initiatives is preferred - including facilitating Root Cause Analyses (RCA) or proactive risk assessments
• Experience with High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles is highly desired
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position may involve considerable amount of standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting - and turning
• It requires assisting clients with transfers from wheelchairs/stretchers and transporting them to other departments or facilities
• Mechanical devices are available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift clients
• The work may involve pushing or lifting up to 35 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 position may require the ability to physically control or defend against emotionally ill clients
• The position also requires ability to work on computers for extended periods of time
• Basic Life Support (BLS) is required for RNs in direct patient care positions per policy
• the supervisor may also direct BLS certification for other positions
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required in specific specialty areas and assignments per policy
• Incumbent will be self-directed in completing orientation and on-going mandatory education
• Will actively participate in competency assessment and validation
• Specialty assignments may require a scope of practice for procedures beyond basic education.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Duties include but are not limited to the following: Leads and coordinates the facility's patient safety program - implementing policies and activities developed by VA's National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) and serving as the facility's key resource for building and sustaining a culture of safety
• Directly supports the development - maintenance - and operation of the patient safety process at the facility level
• Leads Root Cause Analysis (RCA) activities - working with team members - team leaders - and recorders to investigate adverse events and close calls and translate findings into corrective action
• Trains clinicians - management - and support personnel facility-wide - and at associated operations - on patient safety principles and RCA methodology
• Coordinates the patient safety-related activities of personnel such as infection control professionals - risk managers - and quality managers
• Utilizes patient safety culture survey data and analysis to assess organizational strengths and gaps and facilitates initiatives to promote and sustain a culture of safety
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team - leading initiatives that drive continuous process improvement
• Models High Reliability Organization (HRO) practices and leads forums to reinforce safety principles across the facility
• Maintains clear - ongoing communication between the facility and VISN/NCPS - sharing lessons learned with broader applicability and incorporating national-level program changes into local practice
• Maintains confidentiality of sensitive information in all activities
• Applies specialized principles and practices of patient safety science to support a systems-based approach to healthcare delivery
• Directly supports facility leadership in the planning - organization - direction - and evaluation of the patient safety program
• Not all duties may be listed - so other duties may be assigned
• 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 7:00AM-3:30PM Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized