Registered Nurse - Quality Management Consultant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking an RN - Quality Management Consultant to provide clinical leadership and drive innovative quality-improvement initiatives across patient care.

The role emphasizes self-direction, interdisciplinary collaboration, and improving care outcomes through data-driven strategies. Duties include leading QM efforts, analyzing data, and partnering with leaders to ensure safety and accreditation readiness.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency per 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Graduate from an approved nursing program with ACEN/CCNE accreditation.
• Active, unrestricted nursing license in the United States.
• Foreign nursing graduates require degree equivalency validation.
• GNT temporary appointment pathway available while pursuing licensure.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates leadership and drives improvement in quality of care outcomes.
• Collects and analyzes data to monitor compliance with policies and standards.
• Provides analytical reports to support planning and the QM program.
• Collaborates with leaders to promote safety and a High Reliability Organization culture.

Skills

English proficiency

Licensure as RN

Leadership

Quality improvement

Data analysis

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) or related field

Job description

Summary

The Registered Nurse (RN) - Quality Management (QM) Consultant functions as a clinical expert and executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. The RN-QM Consultant demonstrates self-direction and drives improved care outcomes through effective interdisciplinary collaboration and leadership of innovative process‑improvement initiatives.

Summary

The Registered Nurse (RN) - Quality Management (QM) Consultant functions as a clinical expert and executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. The RN-QM Consultant demonstrates self-direction and drives improved care outcomes through effective interdisciplinary collaboration and leadership of innovative process‑improvement initiatives.

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/13061937
• 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/
• Physical Requirements: See Directive and HANDBOOK 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• Preferred Experience: Bachelor's degree in Nursing with 5-10 years of recent clinical experience required
• A Master's degree in Nursing or a related field is preferred
• Experience in Quality Management or Utilization Management - as well as certification as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality - is strongly preferred
• Candidates must be able to arrive onsite at the Linwood campus within one hour of notification.

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to: Demonstrates leadership - experience - and creative approaches to improvement in quality-of-care outcomes
• Responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level
• Collects and analyzes data to monitor staff compliance with applicable policies - directives - and standards
• Provides analytical reports identifying trends and supports all services in planning - designing - integrating - implementing - modifying - and administering a comprehensive quality management program
• Works closely with leaders and colleagues to advance a strong culture of safety - actively demonstrating High Reliability Organization principles in daily practice
• Makes clinical judgments and draws conclusions from collected data to identify patient care issues/trends that require intervention to improve patient care and/or obviate risk situations
• Initiates changes in clinical practice and/or the system for delivering patient care based on current concepts and findings from research and/or studies
• Works with medical center staff to ensure continued accreditation readiness (e.g
• Joint Commission - OIG - and other accrediting bodies)
• 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: 6:30am - 3:00pm - Monday - Friday Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Note: This position serves as a scribe for onsite surveys in support of ongoing facility readiness - which my occur at random
• As such - the incumbent must be able to maintain availability to report on-site to the Linwood campus within one hour when notified which may occur outside of normal business hours.