Summary The Assistant Chief Nurse 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, influence organizational mission and health care, and responsibility for outcomes. Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Responsibilities The Assistant Chief Nurse (ACN) for Primary Care Service, under the direct supervision of Chief Nurse, Primary care, is responsible to carryout the functions and activities expected of them within Primary Care/PACT and assigned outpatient services including CWBY VA Medical Center, (4) Community Based Outpatient Clinics. The Assistant Chief Nurse contributes ideas and recommendations for operational planning, oversight of nursing care provided to Veterans and managing nursing personnel and resources. The Assistant Chief Nurse reports directly to the Chief Nurse, Primary Care and serves an integral role on the Nursing Executive Management Team. Performs administrative functions to assistant the Chief Nurse (ACN) which include but are not limited to educational programs, medicine specialty, procedural areas, etc. The ACN assists with aggregate data and participate in the budget process to plan for current, emerging, and future resource requirements for operational status. Responsibilities include the Patient Aligned Care Teams, Travelling Veteran Coordinator Program, Remote Patient Monitoring Home Telehealth, and Coordinated Transitions of Care Program. The Assistant Chief Nurse demonstrates leadership at the service and/or hospital level, including functioning as a nursing leader with the ability to delegate appropriately. Specific Primary Care Clinics/programs assigned for more in-depth oversight and accountability. Assigned Primary Care Nursing Clinics/programs and staff will report directly to the Assistant Chief Nurse. The ACN promotes the philosophy and attitude of a high reliable organization with safety and quality of care of the Veteran being the focus. The Assistant Chief Nurse assists Nurse Manager (NM) to carry out the functions and activities expected of them including overseeing the timely and accurate completion of all recruitment and hiring processes. Promote a culture of safety. Assists with the accurate completion of routine administrative functions including scheduling, timekeeping, payroll duties, labor mapping, all Electronic Permission Access System requests (EPAS), BLS review for compliance, review of performance appraisals, proficiencies, and ECFs, assigned action items, and records management. Action planning and tracking of completion for All Employee Survey data, Operational Plan, Veterans Experience Office plan and others. Lead quality improvement activities based on data. Assists with identifying staff knowledge gaps and collaborates with nursing management and education. Stay informed of programmatic changes provided by VA Central Office, VISN or local leadership. Maintain knowledge of the standards of care, and accrediting body's requirements for Primary Care (PACT) and programs within service. The Assistant Chief Nurse assists with 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, directives, policies, and standards operating procedures (SOP). Aligns nursing/clinical objectives with organizational strategic outcomes, participating in strategy planning and execution. They promote a workplace to achieve the organization's vision and mission. Responsible for participating within unit based and/or organizational level Shared Governance councils, utilizing clinical expertise, evidence-based practice, and knowledge to assist with finding solutions to problems or issues to improve the quality care provided to our veterans. 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: 7:30 am-4:00 pm Telework: Ad hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidate. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). 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/12787762. 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/. Preferred Experience: PACT Experience, Nurse Management experience, National Certification, MSN Preferred. Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by nurses such as potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, sitting, stooping, moderate lifting, or kneeling (VA Qualification Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer) . Examples may include but are not limited to: 1. Reaching, crouching, stooping, stretching. 2. Assisting patients and moving equipment, repeated bending, pushing, and/or pulling. 3. Significant amounts of time standing while assisting assigned patients. 4. Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols. 5. Visual acuity and keen hearing. 6. Manual dexterity. 7. Possible exposure to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to use personal protective clothing in isolation situations. 8. Operative/invasive procedures. 9. Exposure to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or mental health disorders. 10. Employee must complete employee health requirements as directed. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, such as irregular tours of duty (i.e. nights/weekends) and may require up to twenty-five (25) percent travel from the duty station to other sites/CBOCs as appropriate to provide direct patient care, training needs, or emergency situations (i.e. hurricanes, floods, pandemic, etc.). THIS POSITION HAS 24/7 RESPONSIBILITY. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. 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. 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
