Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This vacancy is open to all United States Citizens

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• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, such as irregular tour duty (i.e. nights/ weekends) and may require up to 50% travel from the duty station to other sites/ CBOCs as appropriate to provide direct patient care, training needs, or emergency situations (i.e hurricanes, floods, pandemic, ect.
• Engages in professional organizations to enhance leadership and professional growth
• Adheres to ethical principles in decision-making, fostering accountability at personal, organizational, and staff levels
• Equips staff with tools for culturally competent care and promotes a culture of accountability for high-quality, cost-effective outcomes
• Cultivates alliances across the care continuum, building trust through active listening, engagement, and emotional intelligence
• Promote high reliable organization (HRO) with safety and quality of the Veteran
• Ensures compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards, educating staff on survey readiness
• Aligns nursing/clinical objectives with organizational strategic outcomes, participating in strategy planning and execution
• Maintains knowledge and ensures compliance with all regulatory and accreditation standards, directives, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOP)
• Role model, educator, mentor, and supervisor providing leadership to the team
• Remove barriers and influence care outcomes by collaborating with interprofessional teams
• Implement new evidence-based cutting-edge programs/processes; incorporating Lean Six Sigma projects to improve outcomes
• Collaborate with LR/HR and provide counseling and instruction to staff on work matters
• Collaborate with Clinical Nurse Educator in orientation of newly hired nursing staff; Monitor new staff orientation progress and initiate efforts to improve orientation program and meet weekly with the newly hired nurse and preceptor
• Resolve complaints
• Monitors metrics related to scope and develops initiatives to improve metrics across the system leading to sustained improvements/change
• Complete staff evaluations/proficiencies
• Leading initiatives that demonstrate evidence-based practice projects to improve population health, chronic disease management, and Veteran outcomes
• Manage timekeeping
• Collaborate with HR specialist throughout the Hiring Process for new positions.
• Perform other duties as assigned

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 7:30 am - 4:00pm (may be instances here the incumbent may be required to work weekends or extended hours).
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Maybe Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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.)

• 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.

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Masters in Nursing
• A minimum of five years of successful, varied medical/surgical or critical care clinical experience as an RN with above average clinical and health assessment and critical thinking skills
• Minimum of two years of recent progressive clinical leadership responsibilities leading teams such as Nurse Manager, Assistant Nurse Manager, Team lead, Nursing Unit Practice council chair/co-chair
• Mastery of computer skills to include hospital systems and Microsoft Office applications
• Implementation of successful program development such as new initiatives, Lean Six Sigma projects, quality metrics, and/or strategic planning
• Active participation with an interprofessional health care team to successfully achieve goals and objectives; excellent interpersonal skills working with interprofessional teams and patients
• Important individual characteristics: Creativity, flexibility, strong organizational and interpersonal skills with ability to prioritize and multitask, ability to work in fast-paced environment
• Experience directing, supervising, and evaluating nursing staff performance
• Participate in staff interviews and the hiring process

1. Reaching, crouching, stooping, standing.
2. Assisting patients and moving equipment, repeated bending, pushing, and/ or pulling.
3. Significant amounts of time standing while assisting assigned patients
4. Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols.
5. Visual acuity and keen hearing
6. Manual dexterity
7. Possible exposure to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to do don personal protective clothing in isolation situations.
8. Operative/ invasive procedures.
9. Exposure to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or mental health disorders.
10. Employee must complete employee health requirerments as directed.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience as an RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following five dimensions of nursing: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence/Based Practice/Research. Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.