Associate Chief Nurse - Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off - 50 days/year

Federal pension

Health/vision/dental/long-term care

Job summary

The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center seeks an Associate Chief Nurse for Primary Care within Nursing Services.

This Nurse IV leadership role provides senior clinical and administrative oversight across the service line and leads strategic changes to improve patient care and workforce excellence. The position emphasizes planning, operations, and workforce management, guiding nursing staff to deliver high‑quality Veterans care in a complex environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of professional nursing experience, including leadership responsibilities.
• Doctoral degree in nursing or related field with required BSN and relevant experience also qualifies.
• Foreign nursing education must be validated for equivalence where applicable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise nursing operations across the service line.
• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction in nursing administration.
• Oversee personnel management, budgeting, and resource utilization for primary care nursing.

Skills

Leadership

Administrative

Educator

Mentoring

Strategic planning

Education

MSN degree

BSN with related field

Doctoral degree in nursing

Job description

Summary

The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) is seeking an Associate Chief Nurse for Primary Care located with Nursing Services.

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
• Preferred Experience: Clinical Managerial experience of 5 years or more The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse IV: 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling.

Duties

• VISN 12 is committed to fostering and sustaining an environment which celebrates diversity - provides equitable opportunities for employment and promotion - and supports inclusiveness in our culture
• Together - we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that promote professional growth and teamwork - and are inclusive - equitable and welcoming
• We embrace our differences as individuals and unite as a team toward a common goal: to serve our nation's Veterans
• The Nurse IV Associate Chief Nurse functions as an advisor - administrator - educator - consultant - and mentor who possesses a wide range of experience and leadership ability and is responsible for administrative functions of their assigned units/programs
• Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Nurse IV Associate Chief Nurse has substantial and continuing responsibility for planning - organizing - directing - and controlling service-wide infrastructure issues which include overall operation of the service
• Daily attention to complex personnel management problems Participation in executive level decision making deliberations The Nurse IV Associate Chief Nurse provides senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative operations within nursing as directed by the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS)
• They are a key member of the nursing executive leadership team and is responsible for all aspects of care that fall under the operations service line - providing administrative oversight and direction in the programs within the service
• The Nurse IV Associate Chief Nurse works effectively with other Associate Chief Nurses and Nurse Managers to ensure clinical oversight for nursing as well as providing essential support for planning and implementing appropriate resource utilization and distribution
• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments
• Other duties may be assigned in support of the facilities mission
• 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 a.m
• - 4:00 p.m
• Telework: Available at supervisor discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized