Registered Nurse QPS Specialist

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Federal retirement plan

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, seeks a Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) Specialist Registered Nurse (RN) to drive improvements in patient outcomes and program-level performance. The role requires leadership in accreditation, risk management, infection control, clinical guidelines, and performance measures.

The QPS Specialist provides expert guidance, engages with facility councils, and supports data-driven initiatives.

Qualifications

• Must meet English language proficiency requirements.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by accrediting bodies.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN license in the US.
• BSN or higher degree preferred; bridge programs may apply.
• State licensure upon appointment with potential temporary status during bridge.

Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise to improve patient and organizational outcomes.
• Support accreditation, risk management, patient safety, and infection control.
• Assist with special projects and reviews to meet quality management needs.
• Collect data, monitor policy compliance, and generate reports showing trends.
• Collaborate with facility councils and workgroups to plan and implement improvements.

Skills

Quality management

Patient safety

Infection control

Performance measures

Leadership

Education

BSN or higher

RN license in US

MSN preferred

Job description

Summary

Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) Specialist Registered Nurse (RN) demonstrates ability and creative approaches to improvements of care outcomes. The QPS Specialist demonstrates performance that improves the care for a group of patients. They are responsible for participation in the documented outcomes at the program level. Program level outcome must be demonstrated at any organizational level within a department and/or facility.

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/13088872
• 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 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 Criteria: Bachelor or Master Degree in Nursing or related field preferred Minimum of three (3) years of RN experience Knowledge and experience in quality management including but limited to following areas accreditation - risk management - patient safety - performance measures/SAIL - infection prevention - safe patient handling and mobility - system redesign - and continuous process improvement
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Health Service.

Duties

• The QPS Specialist is responsible for providing subject matter expertise in assigned duties to improve patient and organizational outcomes
• The QPS Specialists supports Service Programs including but not limited to: Accreditation - Risk Management - Patient Safety - Infection Control - Clinical Practice Guidelines - Performance Measures - Safe Patient handling - and Highly Reliability
• Assist with special projects and/or special reviews to meet overall quality management needs of QPS service and the organization
• The QPS Specialist collects data - monitors staff compliance with relevant policies - directives - and standards - provides reports - detailing trends - and provides direct staff support to all services in planning - designing - integrating - implementing - modifying - and administering - a comprehensive program area
• The QPS Specialist participates with facility councils - committees - and workgroups
• 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 7:00am to 3:30pm ( HST)
• Telework: Available / Ad-hoc may be authorized at supervisory discretion
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized