Registered Nurse-Chief Quality and Patient Safety

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration seeks a Registered Nurse Chief of Quality and Patient Safety to lead the Quality Management program. The individual reports to the Chief of Staff and supervises clinical and administrative operations while partnering with VISN and center leadership to advance patient safety and care quality.

The role requires an MSN (or doctoral equivalents) and current U.S. nursing licensure, with significant leadership in nursing quality, evidence-based practice, and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) with 4 years nursing experience.
• Current full, active, unrestricted nursing license in a U.S. state.
• Licensure or bridge program requirements as specified for Nurse IV.

Responsibilities

• Lead Quality Management and Patient Safety programs across services.
• Advise, administer, educate, consult, and mentor staff at multiple levels.
• Maintain relationships with VISN and medical center personnel and communities.
• Drive high-reliability safety culture and evidence-based care improvements.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to achieve program goals.

Skills

English proficiency

Leadership

Communication

Relationship management

Education

Master's degree in Nursing (MSN)

BSN with 4 years nursing experience

Doctoral degree in nursing

Foreign nursing degree equivalency validation

Job description

Summary

The Registered Nurse Chief of Quality and Patient Safety reports to the Chief of Staff.

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/
• Physical Requirements: This is mostly a sedentary position with some walking - lifting - standing.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse Quality and Patient Safety - Chief executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross services and/or discipline lines and - influence the organizational healthcare mission
• The Registered Nurse Quality and Patient Safety - Chief functions as an advisor - administrator - educator - consultant - and mentor who possesses a wide range of experience and leadership ability
• The Quality and Patient Safety - Chief must establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) and medical center personnel and relate effectively with customers - families - and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels
• Key relationships with staff are needed to assist team to carry out the functions and activities expected of them
• Contribute ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care - policies - and objectives for the enhancement of quality management organization wide
• Assist in policy-making activities as related to customer service and the overall functioning of administrative and clinical programs
• Provides senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative operations within Quality Management (QM) Program
• The Quality and Patient Safety - Chief supports the integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of patient-centered and organizational goals
• They actively manage and develop collaborative partnerships with clinicians - physicians - and administrative counterparts to achieve common goals
• They champion a High Reliability Organization (HRO) of safety founded on a systems approach to developing evidence-based health care solutions
• The Quality and Patient Safety - Chief collaborates with interdisciplinary team members - including other program and service leaders at the facility and VISN
• They work closely to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of Veteran Affairs (VA) staff nationwide
• The Quality and Patient Safety - Chief relates effectively with customers - families - and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and VISN levels to continuously improve the quality of care and resolve staff and/or patient care issues
• The Quality and Patient Safety - Chief contributes ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care - policies - and objectives for the enhancement of QM
• 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 through Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized to highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized