SummaryThe Nurse IV Chief Nurse executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross services and/or discipline lines and, influence the organizational healthcare mission.
Ensures those they supervise are aware of, and follow the local polices and SOPs at the deployment site. Incumbent is responsible for being self-directed in management responsibilities and leading the delivery of patient care.
DutiesHelp
Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:- Supports the mission of the VHA National EHRM Supplemental Staffing Unit (NESSU), a collaboration of clinical and administrative staff serving VA facilities nationwide during adoption of the new electronic health record system. Provides or oversees interprofessional services to VISN facilities requiring assistance with:
- Veteran access to care.
- Productivity mitigation.
- Legacy system data transfer.
- Staff attrition mitigation.
- Functions as an advisor, administrator, educator, consultant, and mentor, applying extensive experience and leadership ability.
- Provides senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative nursing operations.
- Serves as a key member of the NESSU Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and provides administrative oversight and direction for nursing programs within the operations service line.
- Maintains comprehensive knowledge of:
- Nursing and emergency nursing regulations.
- Veterans Health Administration (VHA) guidelines.
- Medical review criteria.
- Clinical practice and documentation requirements.
- Current standards of care.
- Compliance requirements.
- Promotes the integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas to achieve patient-centered and organizational goals.
- Champions a High Reliability Organization (HRO) culture of safety based on:
- Systems-based, evidence-informed healthcare solutions.
- Prevention rather than punishment.
- Collective mindfulness.
- Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members and program and service leaders at the facility and network levels.
- Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with VA staff nationwide.
- Relates effectively with Veterans, customers, families, community members, and program and service leaders at the local and network levels.
- Assists the ADPCS with healthcare operations and assigned functions and activities.
- Contributes recommendations for nursing standards of care, policies, and objectives.
- Serves as the top executive within NESSU nursing services and as a member of the NESSU ELT.
- Provides executive leadership for the formulation, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of management policies, programs, and practices in healthcare settings.
- Serves as the chief spokesperson for organized nursing services and promotes collaboration among nursing, other professional disciplines, and functional areas.
- Provides leadership for strategic planning, organizational assessment, and program development.
- Participates with the NESSU ELT and strategic thought leaders in planning and decision-making processes.
- Establishes standards for nursing practice at the healthcare system level and ensures the continuous and timely availability of quality nursing services.
- Ensures that registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and licensed practical/vocational nurses maintain required licenses, certifications, and registrations upon employment and thereafter.
- Ensures processes are in place to evaluate individual competency and support annual performance reviews.
- Promotes a healthy work environment through:
- Shared decision-making.
- A spirit of inquiry.
- Evidence-based practice.
- Education and research.
- Collective mindfulness.
- A culture of prevention and safety.
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: Varying, Rotating Shifts.
WHEN Schedule -
Weekends, Holidays, Evenings and Nights.Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: Available at the supervisor's discretion.
Remote Position: This is a fully remote position within the NATIONAL EHRM SUPPLEMENTAL STAFFING UNIT.
Telework: Employee must agree to sign Telework Agreement. Employee must have access to high speed internet (Hard Wire).
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
RequirementsHelp
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 evaluation/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.
QualificationsBasic 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].
Nurse IV. (a) Scope. Executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. i Master's degree in nursing and four years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV. OR ii Master's degree in a related field and a bachelor level degree in nursing and four years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV. OR iii Doctorate in Nursing and three years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV. OR iv Doctorate degree in a related field and a master or bachelor level degree in nursing and three years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV.
*Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.
The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse IV:- Scope: Executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care.
- Education: Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and 3 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.
- Dimensions:
- Leadership. Leads health care delivery by leveraging evidence-based practices, industry-leading research, and innovative care models. Drives a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the program or service level.
- Business Acumen. Transforms health care by implementing new processes, technology, informatics, and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level.
- Inspiring an Industry-Leading Lifestyle. Employs an industry leading, shared decision-making lifestyle. Cultivates a workforce that serves Veterans, families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust, lifestyle competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the program or service level.
- Communication and Relationship Management. Directs the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional organizational values, beliefs and practices at the program or services level.
- Professional and Social Responsibility. Operationalizes a lifestyle of holistic care, health advocacy and health equity. Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the program or service level. Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans and the community.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
EducationEducation: Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of profe
