Assistant Chief_Sterile Processing Service Registered Nurse

California Nursing Students Association Incorporated; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Federal pension

Federal 401K

Health insurance

Job summary

The VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) seeks a Nurse Assistant Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) to deliver leadership across nursing and SPS processes. The role oversees decontamination, sterilization, and instrument management within a complex veterans care environment.

Candidates should hold a nursing degree and appropriate state licensure, with leadership experience in a hospital setting and familiarity with VA qualification standards.

Qualifications

• RN with state licensure as required for pertinent nursing roles.
• Experience in sterile processing or health care administration is preferred.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead nursing processes and SPS operations with leadership and initiative.
• Manage sterilization, decontamination, and quality management programs.
• Provide education and mentorship to staff; implement policy changes.

Skills

Leadership

Infectious control

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Nursing degree (RN)

Licensure in state

Job description

Summary

The VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) is a Level 1a major interdisciplinary teaching healthcare system - offering a variety of Inpatient and Outpatient services to Veterans at the medical center in La Jolla and at the six Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located in Chula Vista - Escondido - Imperial Valley - Kearny Mesa - Oceanside - Sorrento Valley - and Rio Clinic. The VASDHS provides high quality care with advanced technologies and a compassionate service to Veterans.

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
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13095285
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred Experiences: 5 or more years of Sterile Processing experiences HTM (BioMed) - Engineering - IT - IP&C (Infection Prevent & Control) - EOC (Environment of Care) - EMS (Environmental Maintenance Services)
• Steam Sterilizers - H202 Sterilizers - Ultrasonic Machines - Automatic Endoscope Reprocessers (AERs) - Cart-Washers
• in depth knowledge & experience working with Censitrac (RMD Tracking System)
• in depth knowledge & experience Endoscope Reprocessing (GI-ENDO)
• Available to work any day (Sunday-Saturday & any 8-Hour shift) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over)
• Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over)
• Straight pulling and pushing
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking and standing up to 8 hours
• repeated bending
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• hearing aid permitted.

Duties

• The Assistant Chief of SPS is responsible and accountable for all elements of nursing process - duties as follows: The Nurse Assistant Chief of SPS executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of SPS processes
• The Assistant Chief of SPS demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to impact the entire SPS department
• The Assistant Chief of SPS assists with the documented outcomes at the service level
• Service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility
• The incumbent provides leadership for critical and semi-critical RMD - including sterile storage - reprocessing - standard operating procedures (SOP) - competency assessment - selection - operation - and maintenance of reprocessing equipment - staff education program for RMDs - and quality management of SPS
• The incumbent is responsible for assisting the Chief of SPS with assessing - monitoring - developing - and implementing corrective action plans for instrument processing - decontamination - sterilization - storage - biological monitoring - and high-level disinfection monitoring through an SPS Quality Management System
• The incumbent assists with oversight and availability for consultation of non-critical RMD
• The incumbent assesses the environment - analyzes trends - transmits data - communicates ideas - develops - and implements policies - initiates programs and systems - and collaborates in the management of resources
• The incumbent has knowledge in areas of patient care practices - microbiology - asepsis - disinfection/sterilization process - adult education - infectious diseases - communication - program administration and epidemiology
• The incumbent collaborates with the Chief of SPS about evidence-based practice (EBP) infection control relating to sterile processing standards
• Specific activities include but are not limited to education program development - evaluating concepts and project development - mentoring staff and medical providers in sterile processing principles and in the implementation of projects - data collection techniques - statistical analysis - and developing evidence based clinical guidelines and protocols
• 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: Full Time Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized