Assistant Chief_Sterile Processing Service Registered Nurse

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Federal benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

VA San Diego Healthcare System in La Jolla seeks an Assistant Chief of SPS to lead nursing and sterile processing operations. You will guide staff, manage quality programs, and ensure compliance with standards to support safe patient care.

The role requires extensive nursing leadership experience, advanced knowledge of SPS processes, and collaboration across departments to improve outcomes and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency is required for direct patient care.
• Graduate of a nursing program approved by accrediting bodies.
• Licensed or eligible for nursing licensure in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for sterile processing and nursing functions within SPS.
• Assist Chief of SPS with staffing, quality management, and policy implementation.
• Oversee infection control, education, and evidence-based practice initiatives.
• Collaborate with SPS leadership to ensure safe, compliant patient care support.
• Assist with coordination of instrument processing and decontamination workflows.

Skills

English proficiency

Nursing degree

State licensure readiness

Education

Nursing degree from accredited program

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