SummaryThe Peri-Operative Cath Lab, EP, IR, ASU, PACU Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) Registered Nurse (RN) has specialized knowledge of the diverse populations within the VA and competently provides education and guidance for the care provided by staff nurses. The CNE is a professional registered nurse who provides high-quality, evidence-based education and clinical support to nursing staff through instructional expertise, leadership, and collaboration.
DutiesHelp
The Clinical Nurse Educator RN Peri-Operative assumes the following major functions/duties and responsibilities expected of the role:
1. Collaborate with the Chief Nurse for Nursing Education & Research (NEaR), Supervisory Program Manager NEaR, Peri-Operative Nurse Manager/Assistant Nurse Managers, ASU PACU/Cath Lab Nurse Manager/Assistant Nurse Managers, Clinical Nurse Specialists and NEaR Clinical Nurse Educators, and Chief Nurse Peri-Operative, to design and implement the Nursing Education strategic plan specific to assigned nursing staff.
2. Provides clinical leadership and consultation to establish, maintain, and evaluate standards of care and clinical practice within PeriOperative services and units/clinics.
3. Develops and maintains strategic educational plans and evidence-based programs for staff that align with facility goals, professional standards, and national benchmarks.
4. Designs, coordinates, and evaluates orientation, annual competencies, and ongoing education to enhance clinical proficiency, validates competencies, and promotes continuous learning.
5. In collaboration with Peri-Operative/ASU PACU/Cath Lab NM and ANM, implement and manage competency assessment processes, including Donna Wright competency methodology.
6. Leads simulation-based training, workshops, and clinical skill labs focused on: education deemed appropriate to areas and others as deemed necessary by management team, and facility requirements.
7. Mentors and develops nursing staff in critical thinking, prioritization, evidence based decision-making, documentation, and professional communication to foster independent clinical judgment.
8. Promotes and facilitates evidence-based practice (EBP) and quality improvement (QI) projects, mentoring staff in research utilization and practice innovation.
9. Collaborates on policy and procedure development, review, and implementation to ensure alignment with best practices and regulatory expectations in assigned areas.
10.Provides continuous education and updates regarding clinical changes, code management, emergency response, infection prevention, and evolving standards of care and competency validation.
11.Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to assess learning needs, deliver targeted education, and promote patient-centered, high-quality care. 12.Leads and supports performance improvement projects aimed at improving key outcomes for designated areas.
13.Evaluates and reports educational outcomes using performance data, staff feedback, and unit metrics to guide improvements in teaching effectiveness and clinical performance.
14.Develops and sustains preceptor and mentorship programs, supporting nursing onboarding, professional development, and leadership growth in the Peri-Operative: ASU PACU/Cath Lab.
15.Provides instruction and support for nursing students and residents, coordinating with academic affiliates and supporting programs such as RNTTP, VA-STEP, and PB-RNR students.
16.Collaborates with Peri-Operative: ASU PACU/Cath Lab NM and ANM to conduct quality and safety rounds to assess practice standards, review patient outcomes, and staff development opportunities.
17.Performs other duties as assigned to support the mission, vision, and strategic goals of the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) and the Nursing Education & Research Department.
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
Preferred Experience: - MSN preferred
- AACN Certification Preferred
- Formal experience as a Clinical Educator
- 3 years current Cath lab, EP, IR, ASU or PACU experience
- Documented evidence of ability to plan and execute orientation programs for all levels of staff
- Understanding of EBPI principles and demonstrated ability to mentor staff in this process
- Demonstrated experience in coordination and facilitation of staff teaching
- Documented evidence of ability to develop competencies, policies and procedures, and Standards of Practice
- Experience collaborating with the interdisciplinary team
Work Schedule: Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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/13066872.
Grade/LevelScopeEducationNurse 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: In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting and Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight Pulling, Pushing, Walking, Standing, Kneeling, Repeated bending, Keyboarding, Viewing computer screen (8 - 12 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands and legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); and Emotional/Mental stability.
Additional informationThis 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.
