Chief Nurse - Sterile Processing

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Chief Nurse (RN) for Sterile Processing Services in Washington, DC. The role oversees all facets of SPS, including disinfection, sterilization, storage, infection control, and patient care quality across the continuum.

Strong leadership, clinical expertise in perioperative services, and regulatory compliance are essential. Responsibilities include operational oversight, staff development, policy implementation, and collaboration with

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the accrediting bodies.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted nursing license in the United States or DC.
• Foreign educated nurses require degree equivalence validation.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for Sterile Processing Services across the continuum of care.
• Oversee high level disinfection, sterilization, storage, and infection control.
• Ensure customer satisfaction and maintain standards of care.
• Lead and mentor SPS staff, develop policies, and drive quality improvement.

Skills

English language proficiency

Education

Master's degree in Nursing (MSN)

Nursing degree (BSN or higher)

Job description

Summary

The Chief Nurse(RN) of Sterile Processing Services assumes responsibility for all aspects of the Sterile Processing Service to include high level disinfection - sterilization - sterile storage - infection control and prevention as well as customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.

Summary

The Chief Nurse(RN) of Sterile Processing Services assumes responsibility for all aspects of the Sterile Processing Service to include high level disinfection - sterilization - sterile storage - infection control and prevention as well as customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.

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
• 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/
• Preferred Experience: Masters degree in Nursing - and ten years of professional nursing experience - with five in sterile processing/peri-operative service within the last ten years
• Five years of managerial experience within the last ten years
• Subject matter expert for the RMD program
• Knowledgeable in assessing - monitoring - developing - and implementing corrective plans for instrument processing - decontamination - sterilization - biological monitoring - and high-level disinfection monitoring through an SPS Quality Assurance program
• Able to maintain oversight and availability for consultation on non-critical RME
• Able to demonstrate knowledge in areas of patient care practices - microbiology - asepsis - disinfection/sterilization/sterilization processes - adult education - infectious diseases - communication - program administration and epidemiology
• 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 lifts are provided
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations - operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment
• The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Duties

• The Chief of SPS provides health system-wide leadership for critical and semi-critical RMD - including sterile storage - reprocessing - standard operating procedures - competency assessment - selection - operation - and maintenance of reprocessing equipment - staff education program for RMDs - and quality management of SPS
• Major duties and responsibilities of the position include - but are not limited to the following: Maintains oversight and availability for consultation of non-critical RMD
• Has knowledge in areas of patient-care practices - microbiology - asepsis - disinfection/sterilization process - adult education - infectious diseases - communication - program administration and epidemiology
• Has responsibility and oversight of evidence-based practice infection control relating to sterile processing standards
• Serves as the subject matter expert for all SPS activities and provides consultation when called upon
• Collaborates with various surgical proprietary vendors that provide instrumentation that allow the agency to maintain inventory par levels that support the complex surgical cases
• Supports the integration and collaboration of sterile processing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of patient-centered and organizational goals
• Functions as an advisor - administrator - educator - consultant - and mentor who possesses a wide range of experience and leadership ability
• Contributes ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care - policies - and objectives for the enhancement of nursing
• Assesses the environment - analyzes trends - transmits data - communicates ideas - develops - and implements policies - initiates programs and systems - and collaborates in the management of resources
• 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
• specifics TBD with Supervisor
• Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized