Chief Nurse of Professional Development/Hospital Education

This Chief Nurse of Professional Development/Hospital Education position is in Nursing, Education service at the VA Connecticut Healthcare Systems, located at the West Haven location. This position is a full-time at 40 hours per week.

Qualifications:

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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. 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:

• Experience in a direct supervisory role such as Nursing Director or Nurse Manager with flexible managerial skills;
• Demonstrated skill in critical thinking, strategic planning, group process, leadership and performance improvement;
• Experience implanting change utilizing evidence-based data/theory. Knowledge of lean six sigma a plus;
• Strong data management skills and ability to analyze and present relevant data;
• Strong communication skills - verbal and written;
• Exhibits knowledge of highly reliable organization theory;
• Solid knowledge and experience with system redesign;
• Exhibits knowledge of highly reliable organization theory;
• Excellent interpersonal mastery and emotional intelligence;
• Flexibility and ability to juggle multiple projects essential to the role.

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse IV - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 4-5 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or related field and appropriate basic or advanced certification desired, and approximately 3-4 years of nursing practice/experience.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.

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: Registered Nurses should be physically and mentally capable to perform duties of the position. The position requires walking, standing or sitting for periods of up to 8 hours.

Responsibilities:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

The Associate Chief Nurse for Professional Development (ACNPD) is responsible for all aspects of the Medical Center's Education Program overseeing the clinical team and administrative supervisor for education and training. This includes coordination and compliance with national and VISN directives on education and training for all employees and the overall educational operations for staff and patients, including those located in each of the community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). The ACNPD also oversees the medical center simulation laboratory.

The ACNPD exhibits leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for integrated educational and staff development programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. The incumbent has fiscal oversight of education program fund control points, including national scholarship programs offered by the VA. He/she is responsible for consulting with VHA's Employee Education System (ILEAD) as needed to ensure compliance with staff education functions such as mandatory training, Talent Management System (TMS) implementation, availability of learning resources, and all VACO reporting related to education. The incumbent oversees the responsibilities of the Designated Learning Officer (DLO) including reports, data management and OAA communications. He/she is directly responsible for programmatic management of the nurse residency programs, scholarship programs, orientation program development, academic affiliations, patient orientation (introduction clinic), patient and professional education, regulatory requirements related to education, performance measures related to education, nurse residency programs, and consultative services for competency assessment. The ACNPD occupies a key management position within the Medical Center and has the principal responsibility for providing continuing oversight for education and training activities within this institution. The incumbent supervises a staff consisting of clinical and administrative employees. Incumbent evaluates performance of assigned staff and initiates appropriate action in order to reward, guide, counsel, instruct, etc.

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 through Friday 7:30 am-4:00 pm, but must be available 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Telework: Available for Ad-hoc telework at supervisors discretion.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized to highly qualified candidates.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Required: Selectee must file a financial disclosure report, OGE Form 450, within 30 days of onboarding and then annually after that.

Notifications:

• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments based on the candidate's education and experience. For internal selectees being promoted, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.

Salary : $129,823 - $172,657