Registered Nurse - Patient Safety Manager

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Registered Nurse - Quality - Safety and Improvement to lead patient safety initiatives and improve care outcomes in a complex VA hospital setting.

This role requires clinical excellence, leadership, and the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams. Responsibilities include planning, implementing, and evaluating safety programs, training staff, and ensuring compliance with VA handbooks and accreditation standards to promote a culture of

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required; ability to read, write, and communicate effectively.
• Graduate of an approved nursing program with ACEN or CCNE accreditation.
• State nursing license upon graduation and ability to obtain permanent appointment.
• For foreign graduates, current unrestricted registration is acceptable.
• Proficiency in computers and standard office software; experience with EHR systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead patient safety initiatives and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate with VA NCPS, TJC, NSO, and OIG to improve safety.
• Provide nursing care using ANA standards and lead interdisciplinary teams.
• Train staff and ensure compliance with VA handbooks and directives.
• Develop and present action items and safety reports to leadership.

Skills

English language proficiency

Leadership

Team leadership

Education

RN license/degree

BSN preferred

Job description

Summary

The Registered Nurse - Quality - Safety and Improvement (QSI) Patient Safety Manager (PSM) functions as an advanced clinician and executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex patient care; assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates delivery of care based on age specific components; and is responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level.

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/13084694
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred Experience: At least 5 years of progressively complex nursing experience in various acute care settings
• Experience planning - organizing - and leading interdisciplinary teamwork - such as Root Cause Analyses (RCA) - Performance Improvement teams - or interdisciplinary teams involving providers - residents - and trainees
• Experience preparing Action Item responses - facility-wide memorandums - annual reports - and technical reports incorporating statistical data - trend analyses - or dashboard information for presentation to Boards - Committees - Quality/Patient Safety Councils - or other administrative bodies
• Experience providing education to medical center staff in both informal settings (individual coaching - workgroups - morning report) and formal settings (Committees - Boards - Town Halls - etc.)
• Experience communicating with staff at all levels of the medical center
• Proficiency with computers and office software - including Word - Excel - PowerPoint - printers - and relevant EHR databases.

Duties

• Duties for this position include - but are not limited to: Executes the position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership
• detailed planning
• professional communication
• creative and innovative approaches to the improvement of patient safety/healthcare program development
• possesses an ability to organize priorities
• meet deadlines
• provide in-person - telephonic and electronic professional presentations
• demonstrate the ability to work independently
• Functions as the lead manager and implementer of patient safety policies and activities developed by the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) - The Joint Commission (TJC) - National Surgical Office (NSO) - Office of Inspector General (OIG) - or other external organizations 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
• Trains and coordinates patient safety activities of personnel within the facility - in collaboration with infection control professionals - risk managers and quality managers
• Performs duties directly contributing to the administrative management of a health care delivery system
• Leads the provision of nursing care to patients with complex care needs utilizing the nursing process in alignment with the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice
• Applies clinical knowledge/judgment to lead staff involvement in planning - decision-making - and evaluating outcomes within the immediate practice setting
• Provides guidance and oversight for the Patient Safety Programs to ensure compliance with VHA Handbooks/Directives and accreditation standards and complete any presurvey readiness documents i.e
• Self-Assessment
• Implements corrective actions and ensures ongoing compliance with identified deficiencies or site visit findings i.e
• VISN - TJC - OIG
• Improves Veteran/patient driven care by resolving experience issues such as coordination of care - timeliness or process issues - common themes of dissatisfaction - or environment of care concerns for the immediate practice setting
• Applies patient - family - and caregiver knowledge - values - and beliefs into care delivery without judgement or discrimination
• Demonstrates the ability to improve the effectiveness of communications and interactions with others - to inspire their cooperation and confidence to ensure safe and effective outcomes in the current practice setting
• Leads teams - contributes to team conferences - and actively collaborates in all phases of patient care planning
• Applies evidence-based practice/research resulting in improved outcomes in the immediate practice setting
• Utilizes patient safety culture data and analysis to facilitate promotion of culture of safety and collaborates with leaders and staff for process improvement efforts for identified patient safety risks
• 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
• 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: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM - Monday - Friday
• Subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.