Registered Nurse - Patient Safety Manager

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Retirement benefits

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Atlanta VA Medical Center, seeks an experienced Registered Nurse to serve as Patient Safety Manager within the Quality Patient Safety Service line.

The role requires clinical leadership and expertise in patient safety systems, cultures, and improvement initiatives across VA facilities. The incumbent will lead policy implementation, coordinate with Infection Control, Risk Management, and Quality Management staff, and drive evidence-based safety practices.

Qualifications

• RN license issued by a US state/territory with basic English proficiency.
• BSN or higher required per VA standards; bridge program options may apply

Responsibilities

• Lead the facility's patient safety policies and activities.
• Coordinate NCPS initiatives and promote a safety culture across the VA facility.
• Collaborate with infection control, risk management, and quality management teams.
• Train and coordinate patient safety activities among facility personnel.

Skills

Patient safety

Leadership

Registered nurse

Education

BSN or higher

Nursing bridge program

Job description

Summary

Atlanta VA Medical Center is seeking a highly motivated Registered Nurse experienced as a Patient Safety Manager for our Quality Patient Safety Service line to join our Nursing team. Specializing in Patient Safety Management environment. Functions as a clinical expert and executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex patient 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
• 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/13059532
• 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 additional 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred experience: Two (2) - Five(5) years of Patient Safety experience
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• The position requires potentially long periods of combined walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable or working effectively in stressful situation - able to shift priorities based on needs of the organization
• The incumbent who provides off-site training may be required to travel occasionally
• This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: ? Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients ? Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

Duties

• The PSM functions as the lead manager and implementer of patient safety policies and activities developed by the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) and is the facility's key person to help build and implement patient safety systems and promote the culture of safety within Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities and for VA patients in all healthcare settings
• Direct support is provided to the development - maintenance - and operation of the VHA's patient safety process at the facility level
• This includes working with all levels of staff within the facility - including top-level management - Root Cause Analysis (RCA) team members - RCA team leaders - and RCA recorders
• Must have the attitude that building the culture of safety is paramount and the foundation upon which safe operations are based
• Such a culture takes time to build and requires constant nurturing and reinforcement to maintain
• The PSM collaborates with - trains - and directs patient safety activities of personnel within the facility - such as infection control professionals - risk managers and quality managers
• Responsible for translating the policies - theories - and strategies into action within the complex interrelationships that exist related to patient safety
• General Description of Assigned Duties: Functions as a clinical expert and executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex patient care
• Assessments - plans - implements - and evaluates delivery of care based on age specific components
• Demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients
• Responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level
• Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility - Veterans Integrated Systems Network (VISN) - or Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO)
• They demonstrate sound decision-making and judgment and possess excellent interpersonal skills
• They are self-directed and influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and leading innovative process improvement initiatives
• Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex client care
• Duties include but not limited to: Coordinates and implements patient safety policies developed by the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) at the facility level
• Serves as the facility's key patient safety point of contact - helping build and implement patient safety systems for Veteran patients across all healthcare settings
• Supports the development - maintenance - and operation of the VHA's patient safety process at the facility level
• Applies foundational patient safety science and enterprise processes to guide program development and improvement
• Demonstrates leadership and detailed planning in improving patient safety and healthcare program development
• Organizes priorities and meets deadlines while managing multiple program responsibilities
• Delivers professional presentations in person - by phone - and electronically to various audiences
• Works independently and collaborates across all staff levels - including top-level facility management and patient safety analysis teams
• Utilizes patient safety survey data and analysis to facilitate and promote a culture of safety
• Partners with leadership to sustain safety practices - modeling High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles such as facilitating patient safety forums
• Trains and coordinates patient safety activities among facility personnel - including infection control professionals - risk managers - and quality managers
• Translates patient safety policies - theories - and strategies into action - and maintains communication between the facility and VISN to share patient safety information and promote organizational learning
• 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 - Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm (extended hours as needed - schedule subject to change based on agency needs.) Telework: Ad-hoc available at supervisors discretion
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized