Associate Director for Patient Care Service/ Nurse Executive

Summary

The Registered Nurse - Associate Director for Patient Care Service (ADPCS)/Nurse Executive (NE) is an advanced healthcare executive who executes responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches in the guidance and direction of a variety of complex patient care services and programs. The ADPCS is a member of the VA Salem Health Care System Executive Leadership Team and is responsible for the practice of nursing throughout the Health Care System.

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 V: Scope: Practice of an executive nature - comprised of complex leadership and administrative components - associated with critical health care issues and activities that drive meeting the organizational mission - health care and policy
• Education: Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 5 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V
• OR Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and 5 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing and 4 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V
• OR a Doctoral 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 IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Dimension Requirements: Leadership
• Establishes the strategic direction for health care delivery - evidence-based practices - industry-leading research - and innovative care models
• Creates a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the organization or enterprise level
• Business Acumen
• Transforms health care through the application of new processes - technology - informatics - data analytics - business principles - systems thinking and resource management at the organization or enterprise level
• Inspiring an Industry-Leading Lifestyle
• Establishes an industry leading - shared decision-making lifestyle
• a workforce that serves Veterans - families - and caregivers of all backgrounds
• builds trust and lifestyle competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the organization and enterprise level
• Communication and Relationship Management
• Drives the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional and organizational values - beliefs - and practices at the organizational or enterprise level
• Professional and Social Responsibility
• Sets the standard for a lifestyle of holistic care - health advocacy and health equity
• Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the organization or enterprise level
• Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans - the community - and the health care industry
• Preferred Experience: 3 years of managerial/supervisory experience at the Nurse Manager level or higher
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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.
  
  

Duties

• Duties of the Associate Director Patient Care Services (ADPCS)/ Nurse Executive (NE) include but are not limited to: Serves as an advanced healthcare executive responsible for leading - administering - educating - and consulting across complex patient care services and programs
• Influence policy development and organizational decisions to improve care for Veterans at local - regional - state - and broader levels
• Provide complex leadership and administrative oversight associated with critical health care issues and activities that influence the organizational mission - health care - and policy
• Reports to the Health Care System Medical Director and serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT)
• Functions as the highest-ranking nursing executive and chief spokesperson for organized nursing services
• Promote collaboration between nursing and other professional disciplines to achieve Veteran-centered organizational goals
• Leads or contributes to strategic planning - organizational assessment - program development - and facility decision-making
• Establishes health-system nursing practice standards and ensures the continuous availability of timely - high-quality nursing services
• Is accountable for nursing practice 24/7 - including registered nurses - advanced practice nurses - licensed practical/vocational nurses - nursing assistants - and other allied health staff - regardless of reporting structure
• Has line authority over the Deputy ADPCS/Deputy Nurse Executive - Sterile Processing Service - and Education and Learning Resources
• Provides oversight to the Associate Chief Nurses for Ambulatory Care - Mental Health - and Geriatrics
• Holds final approval authority for job descriptions
• policies and procedures
• patient care - treatment - and service standards
• nursing practice standards
• staffing plans
• functional statements
• and measures for assessing and improving patient outcomes
• Delegates responsibilities appropriately to service lines under the ADPCS/NE's authority
• Ensures nursing personnel are properly licensed - certified - and/or registered at hire and throughout their employment
• Maintains processes for evaluating individual competency and reviewing annual performance ratings
• Promotes a healthy nursing work environment through shared decision-making - inquiry - evidence-based practice - education - and research
• Supports an academic environment that advances the nursing profession
• Champions a High Reliability Organization culture based on collective mindfulness - prevention - patient safety - and evidence-based healthcare solutions
• 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 - 7:45am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc - as determined by the agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized