Registered Nurse (Chief Nurse - Associate Chief Nurse Care In The Community)

The Nurse IV Associate Chief Nurse (ACN) for Care in the Community (CITC) executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for integrated programs that cross services and/or discipline lines and, influences the organizational healthcare mission.

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 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 Lifestyle. Employs an industry leading, shared decision-making lifestyle. Cultivates a workforce that serves Veterans, families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust, lifestyle 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 lifestyle 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: Activities may require moderate lifting and carrying 15-44 pounds, prolonged standing 5.3 hours, extensive walking 5.3 hours, bending 5.3 hours, pushing/pulling and lifting 0.5 hours , transport of stretchers, and beds, with or without patients; assistance in moving anesthetized patients may be required.

Responsibilities:

• The incumbent functions as an advisor, administrator, educator, consultant, and mentor, offering expert oversight of daily CITC operations at local and VISN levels.
• The Incumbent collaborates with facility, VISN, and VACO stakeholders to establish effective partnerships and advance organizational cohesiveness, and ensure alignment with Veteran-driven goals across community care workflows.
• Supports the integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of patient-centered and organizational goals.
• Leads integrated operations by aligning clinical and non-clinical processes to deliver services where needed and to achieve measurable outcomes and champion High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles - systems thinking, prevention-based solutions, and collective mindfulness - to elevate safety, quality, and reliability across CITC programs.
• The incumbent routinely analyzes practice, quality, and safety plans to identify gaps, driving systematic change, and attain enterprise outcomes for Veterans receiving care in the community, while facilitating the spread and sustainment of best practices across facilities and networks.
• Develops and implements individualized care plans, ensures timely initiation of referrals and consults, and provides education to Veterans and families; they adjust plans of care to optimize outcomes.
• Applies healthcare business models, informatics, and data analytics to guide program management, prioritize resources, and support senior leadership goals.
• Assesses and evaluate patient-care policies and programs, monitor performance, and use data-driven decision-making to improve access, timeliness, and outcomes for community care.
• Establishes and sustains highly effective relationships across the facility (ELT and other Chiefs of Service), VISN, and VACO; communicates with transparency, clarity, and integrity; and leverages collaborative engagement with front-line staff and program leaders to advance strategic action plans.
• Educates colleagues and students, serves as a resource to interprofessional team members, and mentors staff to build competencies aligned with CITC goals and HRO principles.
• The Incumbent operationalizes holistic care, health advocacy, and health equity, applying ethical principles in decision-making and fostering an environment of ethical practice throughout the organization.

Preferred Experience

• 3 years of Supervisory experience
• 3 years working in direct care (e.g. Primary Care, Specialty Care etc.)
• Knowledge of Nursing Standards of Practice and Joint Commission accreditation standards
• 3 years experience in complex care coordination
• Formal systems redesign and/or change management training

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, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Adhoc Telework
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $153,314