Duties

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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Responsibilities

The incumbent executes position responsibilities that contribute to the improvement of safe patient care, productivity, effectiveness and efficiency of medical center operations. Conversion to Title 38 is requested as clinical knowledge is needed to discuss the status of the Veteran with leaders as well as all levels of hospital staff, based on education, to include but not limited to, clinical diagnosis, assessment and progress as it relates to the clinical presentation of the Veteran. Incumbent must be clinically astute and able to discuss mitigation strategies as they relate to clinical presentation of the Veteran; must be able to confidently facilitate both clinical/non-clinical discussions with leadership during RCAs, HFMEAs and other ad hoc meetings; and must also be able to understand and discuss the nursing process as it relates to JPSRs, RCAs, and other patient safety activities.

• Builds and implements Patient Safety systems and promotes the culture of safety for VA patients in all healthcare settings.
• Translates VHA National Center for Patient Safety's goals and objectives into action as defined in the VHA National Improvement Handbook.
• Utilizes knowledge of Patient Safety Alerts and Advisories, Patient Safety Directives, Mental Health Environment of Care Checklist, and The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals to minimize the occurrences of untoward outcomes consequent to medical care.
• Performs duties as assigned by the Patient Safety Manager that contribute to the administrative management of the facility health care delivery system, including planning, organizing, developing, managing, and evaluating the medical center's Patient Safety Program. These duties require the ability to apply the specialized principles and practices of health care management in the facility's patient safety program.
• Develops facility patient safety training program and provides employee orientation and training when indicated.
• Publicizes and promotes patient safety successes and activities throughout the organization.
• Works with all levels of staff within VAMHCS to implement patient safety initiatives and promote the culture of safety.
• Provides training and implementation of patient safety activities, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Health Failure Mode and Effects analysis (HFEMA) and Aggregate Root Cause Analysis processes to clinicians, management, and all relevant support personnel within VAMHCS.
• Serves as advisor to RCA, HFEMA, and other multidisciplinary teams to minimize the occurrence of untoward outcomes and mitigate risk to the organization.
• Collaborates with the Associate Chief of Staff for Education or other resident instructors to help provide patient safety training, knowledge, and skills to physician trainees and other trainees.
• Participates in VAMHCS, VISN, and National (NCPS) committees and/or task groups to resolve issues, and plan, implement, and evaluate patient safety activities to enhance patient safety in the organization.
• Serves as advisor to multidisciplinary teams in initiating processes to minimize the occurrence of untoward outcomes and mitigate risk to the organization.
• Establishes effective relationships with Clinical Center Directors and Service Chiefs in order to implement initiatives to promote safety and sustain positive outcomes.
• Works collaboratively as a team member with the other Patient Safety Specialists and Risk Managers in policy review, formulation, communication, implementation, and evaluation; and in setting the institutional priorities and fulfilling day-to-day activities as related to risk.
• Achieves patient safety program goals to ensure the delivery of safe, quality patient centric care.
• Prepares and/or reviews reports involving trend analyses and ensures follow-up in these areas for the facility's patient safety program. Prepares and analyzes data and makes recommendations for improvement. Immediately addresses any discrepancies. Analyzes complex and critical data and ensures follow-up in these areas for the facility's patient safety program.
• Assists in the coordination of activities and preparations for The Joint Commission and other accreditation/regulatory bodies to assure that both clinical and administrative patient safety activities are in compliance with agency and accrediting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Monitors patient safety initiatives and outcomes to identify trends and/or patterns and assure that findings of patient safety activities are used to modify and improve quality patient care and facilitate accomplishment of performance improvement safety goals and objectives.
• Communicates as requested both in written and oral form, internally and to external agencies (i.e., VISN, VA Central Office, NCPS) regarding patient safety reviews and activities.

Work Schedule: 08:00am-04:30pm, Monday-Friday
Functional Statement:
Nurse 1: 000000 (level 1-3)
Nurse 2: 000000
Nurse 3: 000000

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel between VAMHCS sites for this position for training and/or patient care needs.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
00

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• The VA Maryland Health Care System is a 24/7 functioning hospital.
• Current/ Valid American Heart Association BLS and ACLS Cards are required
• All employees of the VA Maryland Health Care facility are deemed to be providing critical services. Incumbents of these positions are required to be at work regardless of emergency situations or any general dismissal authorization.
• All VA properties are now a smoke and vape free environment.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement,

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-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 ). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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.
• 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.

Preferred Experience:

• 3 years of Acute, Emergency Department, and/or Critical Care experience
• Master's Degree in Nursing or related field; highly desired.
• Quality, Patient Safety, and/or Performance Improvement experience; preferred.

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: Physical Requirements: It is VA policy to ensure that all selected applicants and employed personnel are physically, mentally and emotionally fit to perform the duties of the position to which assigned. A pre-placement physical examination is required for all fulltime, part-time and intermittent employees identified by VA Directive and Handbook 5019. The pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment to determine the physical and mental fitness for candidates for appointment in VA. The examination will be concerned with the mental and physical ability of the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and will include requisite laboratory and other screening as required by Federal regulatory agencies.

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. 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 Veteran needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

Annual leave shall accrue for full-time Nurses, and Nurse Anesthetists at the rate of 8 hours for each full biweekly pay period.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: Candidate's education and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered by a Nurse Professional Standards Board in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience as an RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following four dimensions of nursing: Practice, Professional Development, Collaboration and Scientific Inquiry. Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• VA Form 10-2850a - Application for Nurses and Nurse Anesthetists
• Resume

Current Federal Employees - most recent SF-50 is required; do not submit an award SF-50.

VA Form 10-2850a - Application for Nurses and Nurse Anesthetists can be found at: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850a-091998-fill.pdf . The VA Form 10-2850a Application for Nurses and Nurse Anesthetists is required in order to be considered for this position. Please complete form in its entirety. If you answer "YES" to questions item #15B and/or item #28 through #37, please attach a separate sheet of paper with a brief explanation for each question to which you answered "Yes". Information on the application must be current not older than six months . Outdated and/or incomplete applications will be ineligible for consideration. In order for the application to be deemed complete, pg. 3 and pg. 4 must be signed and dated.

Resume:

• Your resume may be submitted in any format and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
• For qualifications determinations your resume must contain job title, hours worked per week and the dates of employment with a detailed description of the duties performed (i.e., HRS per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application will be marked as incomplete and you will not receive consideration for this position.
• If you are claiming licensure, you must include the License Type, Expiration date, Licensure Number.
• If you are using education and or certifications, this information must be clearly stated in the body of your resume. You must include Name, School, type of Degree and Year of Graduation, certifications must include certifying body, certification number and expiration of certification. Credentials beside your name will not be used to meet qualifications.
• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
• For additional information see: What to include in your resume .

HR will not make assumptions when reviewing resumes; please be clear and concise when listing duties and responsibilities.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• OF-306
• VA Form 10-2850a - Application for Nurses and Nurse Anesthetists
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.