Nurse Specialist I

DC Department of Human Resources; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

DC Health is seeking a Nurse Specialist I to perform independent or team-based surveys of acute care and health-related facilities to ensure compliance with DC and federal regulations. This role supports licensure and certification processes for Medicare/Medicaid participation and requires dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The incumbent conducts in-depth facility inspections, participates in enforcement actions, and collaborates with legal and regulatory teams to improve quality

Qualifications

• DC RN license is required to perform the duties of this position.
• Education: graduate or higher-level degree in nursing from an accredited program is required.
• Must possess current active license/registration as a professional nurse in DC or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections and surveys of health care facilities to determine compliance with DC and Federal laws.
• Perform licensure and federal certification surveys, including observation, interviews, and record reviews.
• Investigate complaints and incidents and determine substantiated violations; recommend follow-up actions.
• Review architectural plans for new/renovated facilities for space and design compliance.
• Prepare detailed licensure and survey reports and participate in enforcement actions and hearings.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Graduate or higher-level degree in nursing

Job description

We are excited in your interest to join DC Health (The District of Columbia Department of Health), a nationally accredited public health department (https://phaboard.org/) Where our Vision is for Washington, D.C. to be the healthiest city in America. We believe that all people - no matter their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, education level, age, language, religion, ability, or geographic location - should have the opportunity to live healthy lives.

DC Health is focused on providing the essential public health services (10 Essential Public Health Services) necessary to protect and promote the health of all people in all communities and remove systemic and structural barriers that have resulted in health inequities through the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (PH Core Competencies).

Job Summary

Bring your professional career to Washington, D.C., the most dynamic and diverse city in the country. Join us as you are appreciated, developed, and rewarded and play a vital role in DC Health achieving our Strategic Priorities and Values: This position is located in the District of Columbia Government, Department of Health (DC Health), Health Systems and Preparedness Administration (HSPA). The incumbent in this position serves as a nurse consultant/surveyor/inspector who works independently or as part of an interdisciplinary team in acute care and health-related facilities to determine compliance with the district and/or Federal laws and regulations. The position functions as Nurse Specialist I, working as part of an interdisciplinary team. Incumbent serves as a surveyor of intermediate and/or healthcare facilities (i.e. assisted living residences, intermediate care facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, hospices, ambulatory care centers, maternity centers, and dialysis centers) is responsible for determining compliance with D.C. and Federal laws and regulations. In this capacity, a surveyor conducts in-depth inspections of healthcare facilities for the purpose of licensure and/or certification for participation in the Medicare/Medicaid programs. Integral to this role is a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and independent critical thinking skills. The Nurse Specialist I actively fosters a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Department, ensuring that policies and procedures align with these values. They employ anti-racist practices and principles throughout their work, incorporating an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens into social work practices. Their passion for working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism is evident as they contribute to creating such an environment within the Department, making it an essential aspect of their role. Incumbent in this position is required to attend federal training for initial surveyor certification and updates as specified to be in continued compliance with the educational requirements for a \"Certified Surveyor\". Incumbent may be required to attend specific training as identified by the program and/or federal grant requirements both locally and nationally according to the District of Columbia travel guidelines. Incumbent may be required to work rotating shifts, be on call in emergency situations such as natural and/or environmental disasters, public health incidents and emergencies depending on work location assignments and program requirements.

Major Duties And Responsibilities

• Conducts inspections and/or surveys of hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient clinics, prospective payment psychiatric/rehabilitation facilities, ICF/MR and CRF/MR homes, end-stage renal centers, laboratories, hospice, day treatment programs, maternity centers, nurse staffing agencies and other health care facilities as assigned by completing the following activities.
• Conducts pre-survey activities that Include review; of complaint and unusual incident historical files, for the prior 12-months, and other required databases as required by the respective survey protocols.
• Conducts initial and/or renewal licensure and/or federal certification surveys according to the appropriate survey protocol which includes the following: observation of patient and staff Interactions, observation of treatments, conduct interviews with staff, patient/resident and family members, observation of programmatic aspects of service delivery and conducts verification through medical and programmatic record review.
• Conducts investigations of complaints and incidents, illegally operating health facilities, deaths and others, independently or with a survey team as assigned to determine if the allegations are substantiated, makes recommendations on follow-up activities to team leader and/or supervisor.
• Conducts inspections and/or reviews architectural plans of new, renovated and existing facilities regarding space utilization, for adherence with guidelines for design and construction of health care facilities and compliance with licensure requirements.
• Determines compliance with local and federal governing legal mandates for health care, administrative services and operations of health care facilities in consultation with the team leader, supervisor and/or program manager.
• Prepares detailed licensure and federal survey reports that reflect outcomes of surveys and investigations within targeted timeframes; makes recommendations as appropriate.
• Assists in the preparation of enforcement materials for Administrative Hearings and testifies in administrative hearings with regard to specific enforcement actions or as an expert witness.
• Consults with legal team when appropriate on cited or potential deficiencies.
• Provides advice and recommendations on medical issues related to the enforcement of deficient practices that result from surveys, complaint/incident Investigations cites violations.
• Conducts entrance and exit conferences with facility and/or provider representatives.
• Informs Team Leader/Supervisor/Program Manager of ongoing survey activities as delineated by survey protocol and/or program policy and procedure.
• Documents the observed/determined deficient practice results survey /Inspection according to the federal Principles of Documentation Guidelines Manual.
• Documents all survey related activities per the required time frames into the federal and local licensure databases.
• Prepares complaint and incident investigative reports per federal and program policy and procedures that clearly and accurately document the informational source, and appropriate judgment in reaching a conclusion that is consistent with the evidence in order to cite and apply the pertinent federal and local laws and regulations.
• Provides technical assistance to professional and administrative health care staff, and providers through multidisciplinary conferences and to foster compliance with all governing legal mandates.
• Provides technical assistance regarding survey findings and plans of corrections to facility and/or provider representatives.
• Serves as an informational resource to patients/clients and other health care personnel, and the general public for specialized information related to regulated health care facilities, survey protocol, and enforcements activities regarding the regulation of health care.
• Develops presentations, in-services and educational offerings relevant to survey/regulatory program content for facilities, providers, and the community.
• Present at local and national professional health care organizations and conferences.
• Keeps abreast of advancements in health care and social service facility regulation compliance and enforcement activities by planning, attending and participating in education programs for the regulation of health care.
• Acts as the State Agency Training Coordinator, MOS and/or OASIS Coordinator for facilities participating in Medicare/Medicaid programs when assigned.
• Responsible for the orientation and preceptorship of newly hired Nurse Specialist I upon assignment.
• Collaborates with the Nurse Specialist II, nursing supervisor and/or program manager in setting and interpreting unit goals and objectives in planning for effective use of resources in the provision of nursing services.
• Assists in the collection and preparation of data for unit, program and agency specific reports for local and federal grantors performance measures.

Qualifications And Education

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least one year at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.

Education: A graduate or higher-level degree, bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission of Midwifery Education, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

Degree from Foreign Nursing School: Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools.

Licenses and Certifications

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, you must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the District of Columbia to perform the duties of this position.

Certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation with Automated External Defibrillator Component (CPR/AED).

Incumbent must possess a current driver’s license while employed in this position.

Applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Working Conditions / Environment

The work may be performed in both an office and on-site in health care facilities, client’s homes, inpatient facilities, clinics, and other non-traditional settings. The incumbent may be required to work with emotionally disturbed or potentially hostile clients who may have communicable diseases. Such situations may require the nurse to take specific safety precautions. The incumbent may be required to work beyond the regular tour of duty during a survey or investigation to obtain an approved plan by the facility if there is harm or potential harm to a patient/resident.

Other Significant Facts

Employment Sponsorship

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa currently.

Agency Wide Consideration

Qualified individuals that submit applications for this vacancy may be considered for other current open vacancies for which they qualify within DC Health.

Tour of Duty

Monday - Friday 8:15am - 4:45pm

Area of Consideration

Open to the Public

Promotion Potential

No Known Promotion Potential

Duration of Appointment

Career Service Regular Appointment

Pay Plan, Series and Grade

CS-0610-11

Collective Bargaining Unit (Union)

This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by DC Nurses Association (DCNA), and you may be required to pay an agency service fee through direct payroll deduction.

Position Designation

This position has been deemed Protection Sensitive under the guideline of the DC Personnel Manual. Incumbents of this position are subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC personnel regulations. Accordingly, incumbents must successfully pass a criminal background and consumer credit check as a condition of employment and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks for the duration of their tenure:

• Criminal background check.
• Traffic record check (as applicable).
• Consumer credit check (as applicable).
• Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and
• Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non-merit factor.