Summary

Provides executive leadership over all facility performance and quality programs. Oversees accreditation, risk management, infection control, patient safety, and data-driven improvement initiatives. Ensures compliance with VA/VHA standards, advances evidence-based practice, strengthens patient experience and staff engagement, and aligns quality strategies with organizational goals across all services and clinics.

Duties

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The Chief Performance and Quality Registered Nurse will be responsible for coordination and leadership in all performance and quality activities (to include but not limited to, Accreditation, Utilization Review/Management, Infection Control, Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS), Risk Management, Safety & Occupational Health; Veteran Experience Officers; Systems Redesign, Data Analyst and Patient Safety) throughout the facility. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide leadership and direction for the quality control and assurance program that continually assesses and improves compliance with the requirements, standards, and guidelines.
• Responsible for facilitating a facility quality management program that continuously assesses and strives to improve health care processes, outcomes, patient experience, and employee engagement; identifies and anticipates critical incidents and sentinel events for mitigation, analysis, and action.
• Drives continuous improvement in risk management, professional staff reviews, healthcare inspections and external reviews, and care outcomes monitoring including Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program, Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning, SYMPHONY, Veteran Signals, COMPARE, Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set and Inpatient Evaluation Center, as well as change and innovation across the care continuum while realigning scarce resources in care delivery and optimization.
• Through the integration of clinical appropriateness, operational, and patient preference feedback data, the Chief will utilize nursing knowledge and the nursing process to identify, improve, and optimize care delivery to influence patient outcomes in a cost-effective manner.
• The focus of this position is to apply strong evidence based practice optimization and operational efficiency principles to supply and preference sensitive issues.
• The incumbent is broadly acquainted with all organizational and program areas involved in operational management across the healthcare continuum.
• Responsible for providing clinical and administrative recommendations relative to the quality management function and is a key leader in the organizations approach to assess and improve the quality of healthcare services.
• Dedicated to the pursuit of higher facility-wide performance in each domain of value (quality, satisfaction, efficiency) though application of expertise, influence, management and leadership.
• Ensures the facility overall performance, quality programs and cascading annual plans are coherent and consistent with the network and system wide goals and strategic objectives.
• Aligns and integrates quality performance management with leadership roles, strategic planning and organizational culture.
• Establishes and maintains a quality measurement system which assesses clinical processes and outcomes and identifies critical incidents and sentinel events for action.
• Creates a culture and environment that utilizes evidence-based practice as the pathway to improved outcomes.
• Supports and actively participates in initiatives such as Systems Redesign/Lean, Patient Centered Care, Advancing Excellence, I CARE, HRO and Cultural Transformation. Duties will be performed as required throughout the facility and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

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: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Telework: Ad-Hoc Telework and FWS permitted.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be 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 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.

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.

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.

Preferred Experience:

• Nursing leadership and quality management experience
• Excellent communication analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills to work vertically and horizontally across the organization.
• The ability to identify statistical deviations/variances or process patterns/trends that may impact care outcomes.
• The ability to use principles of risk management to identify and evaluate system issues which impact patient care.
• Able to work collaboratively and use influence to accomplish work across departments.
• Proven leadership ability and facility operational expertise

Preferred Certification: Certified Professional in Health Quality (CPHQ) certification preferred.

Preferred Education: 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.

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

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-tim