Assistant Nurse Manager

Veterans Affairs$153K — $228K *
Hospitals & Medical Centers
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of nursing experience in acute care settings, preferably in leadership roles.
  • Current, unrestricted RN license from a U.S. state or territory.
  • Experience in evidence-based practice and Veteran-centered care.
  • Ability to coordinate staffing based on patient needs and staff competencies.
  • Proficiency in nursing standards, VA policies, and patient safety protocols.

Responsibilities

  • Provide clinical leadership and support to nursing staff.
  • Coordinate staffing assignments according to patient acuity.
  • Promote safe, evidence-based nursing care for Veterans.
  • Serve as a clinical resource for complex patient care scenarios.
  • Facilitate patient admissions, transfers, and discharges.
  • Engage in quality improvement and risk management activities.
  • Conduct employee orientation and competency assessments.

Benefits

  • 50 days of paid time off annually, including sick leave and holidays.
  • Comprehensive federal health, vision, and dental insurance options.
  • Participation in a traditional federal pension plan with 5 years of vesting.
  • Flexible work schedule options to accommodate patient care needs.
  • Eligibility for student loan repayment through the Education Debt Reduction Program.
Full Job Description
Summary

The Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM) serves as a key member of the Nursing/Acute Care leadership team within the San Francisco VA Medical Center, supporting the Nurse Manager in the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive nursing care for Veterans. The Assistant Nurse Manager provides clinical and administrative leadership to nursing staff and promotes a safe, Veteran-centered, evidence-based practice environment.

Duties

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VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [redacted], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

The ANM for the Nurse Resource/Float Pool will serve as a visionary "Roving ANM" for the facility. The ANM will be assigned in Mental Health ARC to support the administrative need for the growth of the service, and all other services for PES/BEST, and Ketamine Clinic. In addition, this ANM expertly fulfills nurse educator responsibilities for the Nurse Resource team, ensuring all staff members meet rigorous orientation and clinical competency standards. Through exemplary leadership, the ANM drives enhanced communication, regulatory readiness, and standardized care practices across departments, resulting in elevated staff competence, patient safety, and overall quality of care.

Duties and responsibilities of the ANM include:

  • Provides clinical leadership, direction, and support to Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurses, Nursing Assistants, and other assigned staff.
  • Coordinates staffing assignments based on patient acuity, workload, staff competencies, and operational needs.
  • Promotes safe, effective, evidence-based, and Veteran-centered nursing care.
  • Serves as a clinical resource for staff and assists with complex patient care situations and clinical decision-making.
  • Assists with patient flow, admissions, transfers, discharges, and coordination of care.
  • Promotes patient safety and participates in quality improvement, performance improvement, and risk management activities.
  • Monitors compliance with nursing standards, VA policies, infection prevention practices, medication safety, and other patient safety requirements.
  • Participates in employee orientation, competency assessment, education, mentoring, performance evaluation, and professional development.
  • Assists with recruitment, retention, employee recognition, and performance management activities.
  • Promotes effective communication and collaboration among nursing staff, providers, Veterans, families, and interdisciplinary team members.
  • Assists with resolving patient concerns, staff issues, and operational problems.
  • Supports effective utilization of personnel, supplies, equipment, and other resources.
  • Participates in unit meetings, committees, policy development, and organizational initiatives.
  • Assists with preparation for inspections, accreditation activities, and regulatory reviews.
  • Assumes delegated responsibilities and provides unit leadership in the absence of the Nurse Manager.


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: Full-time; varies on patient care needs

Compressed/Flexible: Flexible

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Subject to background/security investigation.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period.
  • Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.


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/[redacted].

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:

  • Float pool, mental health, leadership, medical surgical/telemetry.


Salary for this position ranges dependent upon applicant qualifications

Grade 1 Level I-III:
$153,887-$204,663 annually

Grade 2: $176,969-$228,000 annually

Grade 3: $194,665-$228,000 annually

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The position requires potentially, long periods of combined walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable or working effectively in stressful situation, able to shift priorities based on needs of the organization. The incumbent may be required to travel occasionally. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments. Telework is position dependent and appropriate approvals are required; telework is not guaranteed and incumbent must comply with all regulations relevant to telework agreements, policies, and processes. If a position requires driving, incumbent is required to maintain compliance with all relevant policies and processes.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

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