Summary The function of the Registered Nurse Shared Governance Coordinator/Evidence-Based Practice (SGC/EBP). The SGC will encourage creative thinking, collaboration, and transparency while guiding performance improvement efforts to produce the highest quality of care for our Veterans. Provides leadership and project management, quality improvement, and program promotion of Shared Governance (SG/EBP). Responsibilities The Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants, as appropriate to the setting. The individual will assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation. The Shared Governance Coordinator/Evidenced-Based Practice Registered Nurse role has responsibility for the infrastructure and day-to-day operations of SG and EBP, interacting with multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, operational staff, and other key stakeholders. Serves as lead in planning, organizing, and executing SG events, including but not limited to the annual SG training. Consults with SG teams to understand education, enrichment, measurement needs and areas of opportunity. Partners with communications and others to determine effective organizational awareness and change management. Evaluates and develops best practices for SG; continually assesses structure looking for opportunities to improve efficiency and quality. Develops and leads annual SG voting and training/development. Maintains relevant supportive documents, including but not limited to the charter, by laws, and voting materials. Develops and test solutions to improve SG. Monitors functional data from SG and develops interventions to act when necessary. (e.g., staff satisfaction and productivity). Collect, analyze, and report on productivity and other SG related metrics; support SG specific evidence-based practice, quality improvement initiatives; and develops and implements measures to sustain and grow SG. Works with nurse leaders in determining innovative approaches for measuring SG success. The SGC will demonstrate leadership and creative approaches to develop and implement programs and activities designed to improve the quality of patient care and engagement of nursing staff to support a healthy work environment. SGC ensuring nursing service engagement in areas to include Shared Governance Model. The SGC understands the Shared Governance model and theories and ability to implement at the team level and beyond. Demonstrates integration of nursing excellence standards resulting in improved outcomes at the team level and beyond. Communicates both verbally and in writing with internal and external stakeholders resulting in evidence of robust collaboration nursing system redesign. Utilizes and implements LEAN Principles in change/project management at the team level and beyond. Understands and utilizes leading and lagging measures and other quality improvement data. Participates in strategic planning and alignment of goals with service level, facility level, and national organization goals. The Shared Governance/EBP RN is responsible for the implementation of an evidence-based model and empowering nurses to make decisions about their practice based on evidence. The incumbent will promote an inclusive environment fostering professional development, professional practice, engagement, collaboration, and teamwork for nursing staff while providing support and oversight to the Nursing Professional Governance Councils.The Shared Governance/EBP RN provides oversight and guidance to direct care nurse-driven patient safety initiatives, incorporating Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) into policy and protocol development, performance monitoring and improvement, innovation, nursing workforce strategies, and actions to build the strongest possible nursing culture. She/he will be responsible for coaching and mentoring direct care nurses regarding evidence-based practice. 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: 7:30am - 4:00pm / Monday - Friday (flexible to meet needs of organization) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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. 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 identification 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). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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/12836826. 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: Recent experience with shared decision making, interprofessional/shared governance structures, decentralized leadership i.e. unit-based practice councils, nursing-wide councils, and efforts to foster autonomous decision-making and professional practice. Recent experience with evidenced-based practice projects and process improvement initiatives and outcomes. Experience with committee Chair duties, productive meeting management skills, such as Robert's Rules of Order; parliamentary procedures. Masters degree in Nursing. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position requires moderate lifting, heavy carrying, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending, climbing - legs only, Near vision correctable, far vision, ability to distinguished basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing and emotional stability. 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 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.
