RN, Deputy Chief of Nursing Service

Duties

Summary

The RN, Deputy Chief of Nursing Service executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. The Deputy Chief Nursing Service is responsible for administrative functions of their assigned nursing units/programs and functions as an administrator, educator, and consultant utilizing management theory in collaboration with Patient Care Service and other services.

Responsibilities

Candidates must establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of medical center personnel and relate effectively with customers, families, and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels. The RN, Deputy Chief of Nursing Service will perform a variety of duties, including but not limited to, the following:

• Providing leadership and direct supervision for units/programs assigned as a service chief. Community Living Centers, Home Based Primary Care Program.
• Chairing major facility committees assigned.
• Utilizing data to identify trends and early intervention; formulates follow up plans with the services managers/supervisors, other services chiefs, and Executive Leadership as necessary.
• Collaborating with peers/service chiefs to design, implement and refine interdisciplinary programs within the service and health care system.
• Assessing and recommending the allocation of human and material resources, determining staffing levels using NHPPD or other models in areas not yet under NHPPD, managing overtime and plays a significant role in the recruitment and retention of nursing staff.
• Ensuring competency assessments are completed on each nursing employee within their chain of command annually.
• Substantial and continuing responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling service-wide infrastructure issues which include overall operation of the service, responding to internal and external communications, maintaining knowledge of and communicating standards of nursing practice and patient care, and developing systems to enhance overall operations and communications within the service.
• Developing and refining medical center and service policies to meet the needs of the health care system.
• Ensuring resources and processes are in place for continued accreditation readiness and participating in rounds to survey nursing units.
• Maintaining content of professional documents such as functional statements advance practice nurses, registered nurses for procedures beyond basic education, and ensuring licensed and unlicensed staff practice within scope of care and practice for each nursing unit.
• Developing and managing of an annual budget for the areas assigned.
• Serving as an Equipment Inventory Listing (EIL) official for items assigned.
• Drafting and preparing professional reports.
• Providing oversight for nursing orientation and nursing education; works collaboratively with the Deputy Chief Staff Development/Education Service to facilitate educational programs.
• Assessing, planning, and evaluating the processes and daily operations of the units assigned and their staff development.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status

Yes

Promotion Potential

4

• Job family (Series)

  0610 Nurse

• Requirements

  Requirements

  Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • 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
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • 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)
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

  Qualifications

  Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.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.
  • Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-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). 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: Ideal candidates will possess progressive leadership experience relevant to managing a 100+ employee nursing staff along with the skills necessary to implement and sustain change through performance improvement projects, recruitment/retention, and service operations. Experience in Geriatrics and Extended Care is desirable.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.

  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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may

  be required. Mechanical patient lifts are provided and are to be used to preserve patient and staff safety. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.

  Education

  IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

  Additional information

  Testing Designated Position: 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.

  Annual leave shall accrue for full-time Nurses, and Nurse Anesthetists at the rate of 8 hours for each full biweekly pay period.

  This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

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

  This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

  VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

  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.

  If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

  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, résumé, 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 by a Nurse Professional Standards Board 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 four dimensions of nursing: Practice, Professional Development, Collaboration and Scientific Inquiry. 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.Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

  Background checks and security clearance

  Security clearance

  Not Required

  Drug test required

  Yes

  Position sensitivity and risk

  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

  Trust determination process

  Credentialing, Suitability/Fitness

• Required Documents

  Required Documents

  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  • Resume

  VA Form 10-2850a - Application for Nurses and Nurse Anesthetists can be found at: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850a-091998-fill.pdf. Preferred with application.

  The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

  • Cover Letter

  • DD-214/ Statement of Service

  • Disability Letter (VA)

  • License

  • VA 10-2850a, Application Form

  • Resume

  • SF-15

  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

  • Transcript

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• Benefits

  Benefits

  A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Help

This job is open to

• The public

  U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.