Summary

The Deputy Chief Nurse - QPS - reports directly to the Chief of QPS Service and provides and assist with the oversight - coordination - and leadership in developing and managing the facility's comprehensive performance and quality program. As a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) - the Deputy Chief of QPS meets with the Pentad on a daily basis and participates in overall planning and management activities at the senior management level within the Phoenix VA Health Care System.

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
• The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse IV: Scope: Executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care
• Education: Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV
• OR Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV
• OR a Doctoral degree in nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and 3 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Dimensions: Leadership
• Leads health care delivery by leveraging evidence-based practices - industry-leading research - and innovative care models
• Drives a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the program or service level
• Business Acumen
• Transforms health care by implementing new processes - technology - informatics - and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level
• Inspiring an Industry-Leading Lifestyle
• Employs an industry leading - shared decision-making lifestyle
• Cultivates a workforce that serves Veterans - families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust - lifestyle competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the program or service level
• Communication and Relationship Management
• Directs the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional organizational values - beliefs and practices at the program or services level
• Professional and Social Responsibility
• Operationalizes a lifestyle of holistic care - health advocacy and health equity
• Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the program or service level
• Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans and the community
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - and sitting
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing
• 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
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• In the performance of duties - the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Supports the Chief of QPS with executive leadership and direct supervision for staff assigned to Risk Management - Veteran Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) - Utilization Management - Tumor Registry - Patient Safety - Performance Improvement - and Systems Redesign Supports the Chief of QPS with the achievement of high quality - safe - and cost effective evidence-based outcomes on a continual journey of a high reliability organization Collaborates with both administrative and clinical services to monitor quality and safety within the health care system Responsible for the facility's performance improvement and quality program which establishes - maintains - and monitors standards for the delivery of patient care and ensures fulfillment of the mission of the facility Participates with the executive leadership team as well as other management staff to address an organizational approach in assessing the environment - forecasting trends - transmitting values - communicating ideas - developing and implementing standards and policies - initiating programs and systems and management of care and resources Supports the Chief of QPS with the in implementing action plans and process improvement strategies at service and medical center levels for follow-up to include regular progress reports Reviews Performance Measures - EPRP - VASQIP data - IPEC - and other quality data for trends and early intervention Applies clinical performance improvement methods - collects outcome data related to policy - procedure - and regulatory compliance
• In collaboration with management - the Chief initiates performance improvement and system redesign projects Utilizes data and comparative analytical processes in recommending design and implementation of innovative programs to improve service excellence - customer satisfaction - and compliance with patient care and regulatory standards Supports the Chief of QPS in the overall planning and management activities at the senior management level within the PVAHCS Assists management in top-level decision making concerning short and long range strategic planning - policy setting and daily operations
• serves as the facility liaison to the VISN Quality Management Office Supports the Chief of QPS in providing continual planning to meet accreditation standards and oversight body guidelines on an on-going basis Supports the Chief of QPS in coordinating facility activities related to Joint Commission standards including survey process preparation and any follow-up Supports the Chief of QPS in coordinating the Office of Inspector General survey process preparation and follow-up - with the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) survey process preparation and follow-up - as well as other surveys including but not limited to surveys from VA Central Office - the Office of the Medical Inspector - and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Supports the Chief of QPS in coordinating the facility systems redesign programs - the facility patient safety program - utilization management program - and the risk management program Supports the Chief of QPS in providing leadership and direction in the development and implementation of systems to continually assess and improve the medical center's performance relative to the VHA Performance Measure Supports the Chief of QPS with all hospital accreditation and oversight of surveys Interfaces with all VA regulatory agencies Preferred Experience: 3 years of progressive leadership experience as a senior nurse leader with clinical and administrative oversight for a full range of areas (including inpatient - outpatient care )
• Administrative/Process improvement experience and exposure to VISN/National partnership forums/collaboratives/committees
• 5 years Quality - Safety - and Improvement Experience 3 - 5 years supervisory experience Current certification as a Nurse Executive Board Certification (NE-BC) or Nurse Executive - Advanced Board Certification(NEA-BC) CPHQ Certification 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: 7:30AM to 4:00PM (Monday through Friday) Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Ad-hoc - At Supervisors Discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized