Nurse Manager - Spinal Cord Injury Program

Veterans in Healthcare; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

VA Puget Sound Health Care System seeks a Nurse Manager to lead the Spinal Cord Injury service, directing nursing staff, budgeting, and program development. You will ensure high-quality patient care, oversee interdisciplinary collaboration, and drive compliance with VHA standards within a 38-bed SCI unit and associated clinics.

The role emphasizes staffing, education, and continuous quality improvement in a dynamic, mission-driven environment serving Veterans in the Seattle area.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing required.
• Minimum of 2–3 years of medical nursing practice.
• Minimum of 3 years of management experience.
• Masters degree in nursing or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead nursing services and administrative functions for SCI service.
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, and competency evaluations.
• Coordinate interdisciplinary care and policy implementation.
• Monitor quality of care and risk management.
• Ensure compliance with VHA directives and accrediting standards.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Staff training

Quality improvement

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

2–3 years medical nursing practice

3 years management experience

Masters degree in Nursing or related field

Job description

Quality Care Our Heroes Deserve

Now is the time to take your career to the next level and become part of the high-caliber talent that is VA. Experience what 250,000 current VA employees already have state-of-the art practice settings, access to the latest technology, a multi-disciplinary team environment and the opportunity to provide the men and women who have bravely served this country with the finest patient care, benefits and customer satisfaction. And with VA Patient Satisfaction Scores leading the healthcare industry, you'll be joining one of the most respected facilities in the Nation.

Quality Care Our Heroes Deserve

Now is the time to take your career to the next level and become part of the high-caliber talent that is VA. Experience what 250,000 current VA employees already have state-of-the art practice settings, access to the latest technology, a multi-disciplinary team environment and the opportunity to provide the men and women who have bravely served this country with the finest patient care, benefits and customer satisfaction. And with VA Patient Satisfaction Scores leading the healthcare industry, you'll be joining one of the most respected facilities in the Nation.

Job Summary

Seattle hosts some of the most spectacular scenery in the United States. Within three hours' drive of the Seattle metro area you can be walking near glaciers, on beaches, through old-growth forests, and along ridge lines between knifelike peaks still sporting snow deep into August. The city proudly showcases more than 350 art installations and exciting sports teams.

VA Puget Sound Health Care System is the largest referral medical center in the Northwest Network and is part of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 20. The Spinal Cord Injury Service is located 100% at the Seattle division, and is considered a "Center of Excellence." The Spinal Cord Injury Service consists of a 38 bed CARF-accredited rehabilitation unit, outpatient clinic with urodynamics lab, and therapy department. This service provides care for medically complex patients including vent dependent patients, and provides acute SCI rehabilitation, medical rehospitalizations, post-op care, pressure ulcer treatment, annual evaluations, and outpatient treatment.

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.

NOTE: Applicant's education and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered by a Nurse Professional Standards Board in determining the grade and step of the applicant selected.

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.

Duties

The Spinal Cord Injury Service at VA Puget Sound Health Care System was established in 1985 to serve Veterans of the Pacific Northwest. The facility houses 38 beds and provides a variety of inpatient and outpatient programs to meet the needs for Veterans with spinal cord injury. The multidisciplinary team of highly trained professionals provides quality inpatient and outpatient care for the complex medical, functional, and psychosocial challenges of Veterans with SCI. The team works closely with the Veteran, family members and significant others to ensure the highest quality of care. We assist the Veteran with improving functional abilities and maximize independence, enhancing health and maintaining a high quality of life. These goals are met through active rehabilitation, education and health promotion. Programs include a spinal cord injury lecture series, specialized equipment provision and modifications, and sports and leisure assessment and training.

The Nurse Manager

• is accountable for administrative duties which include but are not limited to staff employment, scheduling, competency reviews and evaluations
• is responsible for preparation for internal and external reviews, training/education of staff/trainees, recruitment, retention and compliance with VHA directives
• manages the daily operations to ensure that standards of nursing care are developed and executed and that program development is implemented and maintained
• manages resources in a cost effective manner to support patient care activities
• coordinates the interdisciplinary plan of care, collaborates with others and oversees the integration of patient activities along a continuum of services
• makes provisions for quality improvement and risk assessment activities for all aspects of patient care
• collaborates with members of the nursing leadership to establish policies and procedures in support of nursing practice, and then directs the implementation of the policies at the unit level
• actively pursues personal development activities to promote continuous learning
• integrates evidence-based practice throughout the care delivery process on the unit
• executes position responsibilities which demonstrates leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex patient care
• will ensure the care line program is congruent with the Medical Center and VISN 20 mission and vision.

Key Requirements

• Must pass pre-employment examination.
• Designated and/or Random Drug Testing required.
• Background and/or Security Investigation required.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English

Required Skills

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Basic Requirements

• U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Full unrestricted Licensure, Certification, or Registration required
• 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 National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) 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. 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)
• 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.

Education/Experience Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Minimum of 2-3 years of successful medical nursing practice
• Minimum of 3 years successful management experience with demonstrated skills in resource management (i.e. budgeting, workload, etc), managing human resources and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams

Preferred Experience

• Masters degree in Nursing or Masters degree in related field
• Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (must obtain within 2 years of hire)
• Previous SCI experience

Grade Determinations

Experience as a 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.

The Criteria Are As Follows

• Practice: practice, ethics and resource utilization;
• Professional Development: performance, education/career development;
• Collaboration: collaboration, collegiality;
• Scientific Inquiry: quality of care, research.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G6 Nurse Qualification Standard.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

PLEASE NOTE: 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 (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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.

Physical Requirements:

This position involves considerable amount of standing (up to 2 hours), walking (up to 6 hours), stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. The position requires visual (corrected to 20/30 or better with color discrimination) and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care. The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with neck in a fully flexed or extended position. The nurse may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia or psychiatric disorders. The nurse many be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent must possess sound and logical clinical judgment. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The position also requires ability to work on computers for extended periods of time.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or 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 Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Bring your expertise to VA and be valued as part of a team that is recognized and respected for significant contributions to medicine. You'll enjoy a patient-focused environment, terrific benefits and incentives, and the ability to practice at any VA facility in the country.

Equal Opportunity Employer