Summary

The Non-Supervisory Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM) for the Outpatient Surgical Clinics supports the Nurse Manager (NM) in overseeing operations of a nursing unit/patient care area. Fosters team development, ensures compliance with standards of clinical practice, and serves as a key liaison between staff and leadership. This role combines clinical expertise and leadership for the department. This role will provide department education and training, as well as hand on clinic support.

Duties

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Duties to include but not limited to the following:

• Drafting staff scheduling to include floating and other daily functions for final approval by the Nurse Manager (NM).
• Providing input into the performance of employees with the final evaluation completed by the NM.
• Assisting with making recommendations for selection of candidates for employment.
• Functions as the first line point of contact for daily operational needs, education and training needs.
• Applying clinical knowledge/judgment to lead staff involvement in planning, decision making, and evaluating outcomes; providing feedback to the NM who ultimately ensures nursing personnel provide timely nursing care that complies with generally accepted standards of practice.
• Overseeing work assignments as needed to provide the NM with the information necessary, may make recommendations for counseling and/or disciplinary actions as needed.
• Engages in professional organizations to enhance leadership and career growth. Adheres to ethical principles in decision-making, fostering accountability at personal, organizational, and staff levels. Equips staff with tools for competent care and promotes an environment accountability for high-quality, cost-effective outcomes.
• Promotes alliances across the care continuum, building trust through active listening, engagement, and emotional intelligence.
• Contributes to the development of care delivery models and environmental design, ensuring evidence-based, accessible, affordable, and equitable patient care.
• Ensures compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards.
• Aligns nursing/clinical objectives with organizational strategic outcomes, participating in strategy planning and execution.
• Promotes a workplace positively to achieve the organization's vision and mission.
• Maintains knowledge and ensures compliance with all regulatory and accreditation standards, directives, policies, and standard operating procedures {SOP).
• Coordinates and organizes educational activities, including simulation labs, to enhance clinical competency and support ongoing professional development of nursing staff. Assists in developing and maintaining schedules for educational sessions and simulation exercises, ensuring alignment with organizational learning goals and accreditation standards.
• Supports the implementation of evidence-based practices by providing educational resources and facilitating staff participation in quality improvement initiatives.
• Conducts real-time audits of clinical practice and documentation to monitor compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and organizational standards, providing immediate feedback to staff as needed.
• Collects and analyzes data from audits and simulations to identify areas for improvement, track performance trends, and support continuous quality improvement efforts.
• Collaborates with nursing leadership to incorporate findings from audits and simulations into targeted education and training programs. Promotes a culture of safety, accountability, and excellence through active engagement in quality assurance activities and staff education.
• Maintains current knowledge of clinical standards, regulatory requirements, and best practices to inform educational content and quality oversight activities.
• Participates in the development and review of policies, procedures, and standard operating protocols (SOPs) to ensure alignment with evidence-based practices and accreditation standards.
• Supports the integration of simulation-based learning into staff development, fostering critical thinking, clinical judgment, and team collaboration.
• Assists with data collection, reporting, and documentation related to educational activities, simulation outcomes, and quality metrics.
• Collaborates across departments to promote a shared understanding of quality standards and educational initiatives, strengthening interdisciplinary communication.
• Contributes to the organization's strategic goals by supporting initiatives that improve patient safety, care quality, and staff competence.

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 thru Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

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.

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

Preference:

• Prefer minimum of 2 years of nurse educator, nursing leadership roles in recent 3 years.
• Prefer staff with surgical/procedural experience

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

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.