Registered Nurse - Nurse Manager

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Federal health insurance

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Nurse Manager to oversee the Residential Rehab Treatment Program (RRTP) and inpatient mental health units. You will supervise staff, ensure quality patient care, and drive performance improvement initiatives.

Strong leadership, licensure, and BSN (MSN preferred) are essential to manage complex clinical programs and maintain accreditation across services.

Qualifications

• Licensed registered nurse in the United States with active credentials.
• BSN preferred; MSN or healthcare admin background favored.
• Demonstrated leadership and staff supervision experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee RRTP and inpatient mental health units, ensuring safe, quality patient care.
• Lead organizational performance improvement and ensure accreditation standards are met.
• Provide education and mentorship to nursing staff and coordinate interdisciplinary projects.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Nursing licensure

Clinical supervision

Staff development

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Registered Nurse license (RN)

Job description

Summary

The Nurse Manager has 24 hours - 7 days a week accountability for the provision and evaluation of patient care in the Residential Rehab Treatment Program and 1N Inpatient Mental Health - and for the management and supervision of staff as assigned.

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
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13093848
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree (BSN) in Nursing - Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) - Healthcare Administration - or related field preferred
• Previous clinical and/or management experience in psychiatric/mental health nursing (inpatient and/or residential settings)
• Prior supervisory - lead - or nursing management experience (charge nurse - assistant nurse manager - nurse manager - etc.) preferred
• National certification in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (RN-BC - PMH-BC - or equivalent) or Nursing Administration (NE-BC - NEA-BC) preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs
• and over)
• Heavy carrying (45 lbs
• and over)
• Straight pulling (up to 8 hours)
• Pushing (up to 8 hours)
• Reaching above shoulders
• Use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking (up to 8 hours)
• standing (up to 8 hours)
• kneeling (2 to 3 hours)
• repeated bending (up to 8 hours)
• both legs required
• hearing (aid permitted)

Duties

• The Nurse Manager oversees the Residential Rehab Treatment Program (RRTP) at the Sousley Campus and the 1N Inpatient Mental Health unit at the Bowling Campus - demonstrating management practices that include effective labor and performance management - leadership skills - and clinical expertise as a registered nurse
• The Nurse Manager provides organizational performance improvement oversight to ensure positive patient outcomes - as well as staff and patient satisfaction - and is accountable for applicable accreditation standards for the medical center
• The Nurse Manager responsibilities: 1
• Provides leadership application of the nursing process to client care - organizational processes / systems - by improving outcomes at the program / service level
• 2
• Initiates interdisciplinary projects to improve organizational performance
• 3
• Uses professional standards of care and practice to evaluate programs and / or service activities
• 4
• Implements an educational plan to meet changing programs or service needs for self and others
• Maintains knowledge of current techniques - trends and professional issues
• 5
• Coaches colleagues in team building
• Makes sustained contributions to healthcare by sharing expertise internally and / or externally
• 6
• Provides leadership in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact client and staff - including initiating and participating in ethics consultations
• 7
• Uses the group process to identify - analyze and resolve care problems
• 8
• Collaborates with others in research activities to improve care
• 9
• Manages program resources (financial - human - material or informational) to facilitate safe - effective and efficient care
• 10
• Provides leadership in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact client and staff - including initiating and participating in ethics consultations
• 11
• Manages program resources (financial - human - material or informational) to facilitate safe - effective and efficient care
• 12
• Provides leadership in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact client and staff - including initiating and participating in ethics consultations
• 13
• Manages program resources (financial - human - material or informational) to facilitate safe - effective and efficient care
• 14
• Provides leadership in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact client and staff - including initiating and participating in ethics consultations
• Pay Scale NU46 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: Administrative DTOD Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
• PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized.