Registered Nurse - Patient Safety Manager

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Salem (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Salem VA is seeking a Registered Nurse Patient Safety Manager to lead patient safety, quality improvement, and risk management initiatives. The role collaborates with an interdisciplinary team to drive high-reliability practices and continuous improvement for Veteran care.

The position emphasizes leadership in safety, staff training, and implementation of NCPS-guided policies to ensure top-quality care and patient outcomes across clinical settings.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Graduate of an approved nursing program with applicable licensure.
• State license as a registered nurse in the U.S. or valid equivalent.
• Foreign education requires degree equivalency validation.
• GNT option allowed for licensure pursuit under VA rules.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement patient safety policies and activities.
• Serve as facility key person to build patient safety systems.
• Promote safety and high reliability practices across care settings.
• Train staff on patient safety analyses and program processes.

Skills

Patient safety

Quality improvement

Risk management

Education

Nursing degree (ADN or Diploma)

BSN

MSN

Doctoral degree in Nursing

Job description

Summary

Salem VA is currently recruiting for a Registered Nurse Patient Safety Manager in Quality & Patient Safety. The position collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes and lead process improvement initiatives. The role advances the VHA High Reliability initiative by promoting high-reliability practices - engaging leadership - and driving continuous improvement to ensure patient safety and top-quality care for Veterans.

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/13091383
• 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
• Preferred Experience: 3-5 years healthcare experience in patient safety - quality improvement - and/or risk management Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Nurse- Patient Safety Manager duties listed below but not limited to: Coordinates and implements patient safety policies and activities developed by the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) Serves as the facility's key person to help build and implement patient safety systems Promotes safety within the facility and for Veteran patients in all healthcare settings Sustains safety by modeling High Reliability Organization (HRO) practices - such as patient safety forums Utilizes patient safety survey data and analysis to facilitate promotion of safety Trains staff on the patient safety program and patient safety analyses processes Applies specialized principles and practices of patient safety science to ensure a systems approach to healthcare delivery Implements creative and innovative approaches to the improvement of patient safety/healthcare program development 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-Friday
• 8:00am -4:30pm Telework: Available - ADHOC - may be authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized