Career Center

Summary

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families - caregivers - and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

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/12951987
• 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 Qualifications/Experience Certification in infection control required Minimum five years of experience in infection control Previous supervisory experience preferred Membership in local and/or national infection prevention and epidemiology professional societies preferred Proficiency in reviewing medical records - and use of infection prevention surveillance software - and use of Microsoft Excel - Word - and PowerPoint
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The population of male and female Veterans served ranges from the adult - age 18 - to the elderly adult - age 65 and over
• 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
• 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.

Duties

• The Infection Preventionist Nurse Manager (IPNM) RN supervises infection prevention staff and collaborates with nursing - environmental services - sterile processing - medical staff - and other stakeholders - to continually reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections to the veterans cared at the CMCVAMC
• Conducts and oversees surveillance activities and improvement of infection and process outcomes and monitoring to identify and reduce the risk of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients - employees - visitors - and students
• Leads annual Infection Control Risk Assessment in collaboration with the Healthcare Epidemiologist/ Infectious Diseases Physician
• Manages improvement activities such as structures - processes - and clinical outcomes related to healthcare-associated infections - multi-drug resistant organisms - hand hygiene - and adherence to infection prevention best practices
• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as meeting facilitation and presentation skills
• Provides education on infection control issues - as well as annual and ongoing trainings to staff
• Serves as an education resource for all employees on infection control - epidemiology - and provides knowledge and guidance
• Conducts outbreak investigations - develops action plans - and implements outbreak control measures under the direction of the Healthcare Epidemiologist
• Serves as infection control subject matter expert in various programs and systems within the organization - i.e. - Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) - Construction and Water Safety committees
• Coordinates in risk assessments for all construction projects and completes random walk-throughs of construction projects to inspect/review practices
• Implements and maintains a system for analyzing - trending - and reporting data
• Assists in developing and maintaining mandatory documents such as standards operating procedures - policies - and external agency required documents
• Ensures the Infection Prevention and Control Program complies with all mandated Veteran Health Administration - The Joint Commission - Office of Safety and Health Administration - Office of Inspector General applicable State - and all other requirements and guidelines
• Works collaboratively with other clinical and administrative departments and staff including - but not limited to - Industrial Hygiene - Patient Safety - Engineering - Risk Management - and EOH - in providing reports - consultative advice - and other data needed
• Serves on facility committees to communicate - educate - and provide consultation
• Brings principles and theory with limited application of critical thinking skills - while developing communication techniques and advancing infection control knowledge
• Focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction
• This nurse brings principles and theory with limited application of critical thinking skills
• Designated first-line supervisory authority and is responsible and accountable for the operation of their assigned units and provides coverage for other IPNMs as needed
• Responsible and accountable for the direction and supervision of specific orientation - training - development of staff - and evaluation of individual staff performance
• Functions as a role model - educator - practitioner - and supervisor providing leadership to the team
• Enhance care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team to remove barriers and implement new evidence-based cutting-edge programs/processes
• Seeks knowledge from professional organizations to enhance leadership and career growth
• Adheres to ethical principles in decision-making - fostering accountability at personal - organizational - and staff levels
• Equip staff with tools for competent care and promotes an environment of accountability for high-quality - cost-effective outcomes
• Promote alliances across the care continuum - building trust through active listening - engagement - and emotional intelligence
• Participates in 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 organizations vision and mission
• Maintains knowledge and ensures compliance with all regulatory and accreditation standards - directives - policies - and standard operating procedures (SOP) Demonstrates professionalism and self-management skills VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.