Registered Nurse - Quality Patient Safety Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Federal retirement plan

Health/dental/vision insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Albuquerque, NM seeks an experienced Registered Nurse (RN) Patient Safety Manager to lead patient-safety initiatives and implement NCPS policies. You will build safety systems, train staff, and present findings across formats.

Responsibilities include leading cross‑disciplinary teams, promoting a culture of safety, and ensuring timely program delivery. Requires active RN license and BSN/MSN options welcome. This role offers federal benefits.

Qualifications

• Must be a graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by accrediting bodies.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted nursing license (state, territory, or DC).
• Experience with patient safety initiatives and quality improvement is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate patient safety activities across the facility.
• Develop and implement safety programs and policies.
• Train staff and collaborate with infection control, risk, and quality management.
• Communicate safety information between the facility and NCPS and national levels.
• Manage administrative duties supporting the health care delivery system.

Skills

English Language Proficiency

Nursing Licensure

Education

RN Licensure (active)

Nursing degree (ADN/BSN/MSN)

Job description

Summary

The Registered Nurse (RN) Patient Safety Manager (PSM) provides leadership and detailed planning to strengthen patient‑safety programs. The PSM develops innovative safety initiatives - organizes priorities - meets deadlines - and delivers professional presentations across multiple formats. As the facility’s lead implementer of NCPS policies - the PSM builds and maintains patient‑safety systems and collaborates with staff to promote a culture of safety.

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/13074117
• 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: Heavy lifting (45 lbs
• and over)
• Heavy carrying (45 lbs
• and over)
• Straight pulling and pushing
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking and standing up to 8 hours
• repeated bending
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• hearing aid permitted.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse (RN) Patient Safety Manager (PSM) functions as an advanced clinician - demonstrating leadership - experience - and creative approaches to managing complex patient care
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care using age-specific principles
• Provides broad leadership that improves care for groups of patients and is accountable for documented program and service-level outcomes across facility - VISN - or VACO levels
• Uses sound judgment - strong interpersonal skills - and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to influence outcomes and lead innovative process-improvement initiatives
• Duties include but not limited to the following: 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
• Responsibility for training and implementing patient safety and RCA process to clinicians - management - and all relevant support personnel within their facilities and associated facilities and operations (i.e. - home care)
• Responsible for maintaining clear communication between the facility and NCPS - both to communicate relevant patient safety information and lessons learned from the facility which have potential impact beyond the local level and to understand changes at the national level in the Patient Safety Program
• Performs duties directly contributing to the administrative management of a health care delivery system
• Duties require the ability to apply the specialized principles and practices of health care management in directing or supporting a health care delivery system
• Preferred Experience: 2-3 years experience MSN - CPHQ - CPPS or other certifications preferred 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: 800 am to 4:30 pm M-F Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized