Summary

The Dialysis Nurse Manager is an accessible nurse leader who reports directly to the Chief of Nurse, Nursing Perioperative Service, and is an active member of the Nursing Perioperative Management Team. The Nurse Manager works with the Dialysis Director and the other Chief of Services and/or Designees, and other members of the health care disciplines. They function as a clinical expert and are responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process regarding patient care.

Duties

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Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Manages the administration and evaluation of nursing care, program implementation, personnel management, and overall operations for the Dialysis Unit, home dialysis program, and acute dialysis in the ICU units.
• Manages delivery of quality patient care, including appropriate documentation, employee clinical/performance competency, and continuous National and VAPAHCS performance-improvement measures consistent with the VAPAHCS mission.
• Oversees and monitors employee adherence to VHA Privacy/HIPAA and Information Security rules and regulations.
• Directly coordinates staffing, physical facilities, supplies, and equipment for nursing services provided to patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Leads retention and recruitment of highly skilled nursing staff; monitors workflow, technical, and equipment needs; and ensures the workforce can adapt to a rapidly changing environment.
• Ensures employees complete mandatory annual, facility, and nursing training and reviews within required time frames.
• Ensures annual appraisals/proficiencies are completed, communicated to employees, and submitted timely.
• Maintains familiarity with established policies and procedures; administers the unit in accordance with The Joint Commission (TJC) and VHA policy; and ensures staff compliance with VAPAHCS and unit-based policies and procedures.
• Applies and completes reports related to policy and procedures, including staffing reconciliation, payroll exceptions, risk management, patient incidents, personnel accidents, EEO, and sexual-harassment allegations.
• Participates in designing, implementing, monitoring, and revising systems that promote cost-effective resource use, effective staffing, and enhanced patient care using System Redesign principles.
• Provides leadership and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to improve and sustain service quality and effectiveness; applies professional practice and TJC standards to program development, analysis, and management; and promotes evidence-based practice for optimal patient outcomes.
• Collaborates with the Nursing Perioperative Management Team to identify and promote staff development, strengthen staff competencies, and advance System Redesign initiatives; works with the Chief Nurse of Nursing Perioperative on program development, quality care, performance measures, and resource planning.
• Maintains an integrated delivery system through expansion of clinical practices.
• Maintains operational efficiencies through emphasis on safe practices and National Safety.
• Actively implements Lean principles, supports quality-improvement projects, and promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement.
• Supports excellence in research, training, and education through ongoing competency.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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

Functional Statement #: 07658F, 07659F, 07660F, 07661F, 07662F

Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0730 - 1600 as needed

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 Criteria:

• Current BLS provider card issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network (MTN}-required
• Current ACLS provider card
• Current CNN (Certified Nephrology Nurse preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years successful RN practice (medical-surgical and/or dialysis)
• One (1) year unit leader experience with responsibilities as charge/preceptor/mentor, and demonstrated growth in Leadership roles preferred.

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

Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care. and potentially long periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting. repeated bending, or kneeling. Examples may include, but are not limited to:

• significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients
• utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

Education

MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS TO BE MINIMALLY QUALIFIED

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 achievemen