Career Center

Summary

The registered nurse provides care and counseling of persons or the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process - including systematic data gathering - assessment - appropriate nursing judgment - and evaluation of human responses. The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient - whether an individual - family - group - or community (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses).

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.) HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements
• Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment
• 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/12828922
• 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 Experience: Expertise in The Joint Commission - VA - VHA - VISN - OIG - and other external reviews
• Manages the survey reporting process through various stages of review and approval
• Review preliminary survey results for accuracy and completeness - review and respond to comments on the preliminary results - and facilitate the survey reporting process
• Has a broad knowledge of VA regulations - TJC - and other applicable federal and investigatory requirements
• Determines compliance with - develops - revises - and evaluates all policies and procedures with accreditation program implications
• Knowledge in process improvement
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Lifting up to 35·pounds for 8-12 hours - intermittently - moderate carrying (15-35 pounds) for 8 to 12 hours - intermittently - lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care - pulling for 8 to 12 hours intermittently - pushing for 8-12 hours - intermittently - reaching above the shoulders for 8-12 hours - intermittently - both hands required - walking 8-12 hours - intermittently - standing 8-12 hours intermittently - kneeling 8 to 12 hours - intermittently - repeated bending for 8-12 hours - intermittently - climbing and use of both legs and arms for 8-12 hours - intermittently - both legs required - near vision at 13 to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4 - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye - ability to distinguish basic colors - hearing aid permitted - twisting - simple grasp and fine manipulation.

Duties

• The Accreditation Quality Nurse demonstrates effective administration of substantive functions that include - but is not limited to - clinical screening - data compilation - documentation and entry into a database - comprehensive identification and reporting of all quality monitoring - establishment of work groups to accomplish tasks - VISN and National collaboration toward common goals - and the maintenance of confidentiality that meets and/or exceeds all standards outlined in regulation and law
• Include but not limited to: Provides oversight - expert leadership - and ongoing consultative services toward organizational continuous survey readiness for the following accrediting and regulatory agencies - to include but not limited to TJC - VA - VHA - VISN - OIG - and other external reviews
• Provides leadership in the aspects of assessment - measurement - and process improvements to quality - safety and value of patient care and organizational functions
• Assists Chief of Quality Patient Safety in the development of a systematic approach to assessing and improving organizational performance - central coordination of policy development and review - formulation - communication - implementation - and evaluation of the accreditation processes
• Manages the survey reporting process through various stages of review and approval
• Review preliminary survey results for accuracy and completeness - review and respond to comments on the preliminary results - and facilitate the survey reporting process
• Determines compliance with - develops - revises - and evaluates all policies and procedures with accreditation program implications
• Applies the nursing process to systems or processes at the unit/team/work group/organizational level to improve care and ensure compliance to regulatory standards and performance measures
• Explores the environment for best practices and works to implement them by involving staff in seeking to constantly improve processes and outcomes
• Supports the organization by serving on using professional standards - relevant statutes - and regulations - and takes action to improve performance
• Acquires and maintains current knowledge relevant to the principles - practices - and techniques associated with nursing - compliance - process improvement - risk management - and quality improvement practices through literature and periodical review - workshop attendance - and/or other use of sound benchmark practices
• Educates colleagues or students either in formal in-services or informally as a resource or consultant related to accreditation - tracer methodology - patient safety - national patient safety goals - patient care - risk management - external peer review - performance measures - quality review and quality management
• Takes leadership role in identifying potential problems involving resources and quality and takes effective action to avert or manage the situation in a manner that meets the needs of patients and the overall mission of the health care system
• 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
• 0800-1630 Telework: Available Ad Hoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized