Chief Nurse (Acute Care Service)

The Nurse IV demonstrates executive leadership that reflects substantial, continuous responsibility and accountability for managing population groups or integrated clinical programs spanning multiple services and disciplines. This leadership directly influences the organizational healthcare mission and advances strategic goals in patient care.

The Chief Nurse for Acute Care, VN-0610-IV, provides executive oversight for all Acute Care nursing operations, including the Acute Care Units, Intensive Care Unit, and Emergency Department. They exercise full programmatic and supervisory authority over Nurse Managers and administrative support personnel, ensuring that nursing policies, procedures, and standards of practice are uniformly implemented. Serving as an administrator, educator, and consultant, the incumbent applies contemporary management theory, evidence-based leadership, and interdisciplinary collaboration to guide service operations in coordination with Patient Care Services and other healthcare partners. Duties for the position include but are not limited to: Maintains ongoing responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling service-wide operations. Key functions include establishing effective communication systems, maintaining expertise in current nursing and regulatory standards, and developingprocesses that support high-quality patient care and operational efficiency. Design, implement, and sustain comprehensive interdisciplinary programs across the service and medical center, promoting organizational integration and the seamless coordination of care. Operational oversight encompasses assessing, planning, and evaluating daily clinical and administrative processes to ensure the delivery of safe and effective patient care. Performs staffing analyses, recommends and implements adjustments based on patient acuity, workload, and organizational needs, and utilizes models such as Nursing Hours Per Patient Day (NHPPD) when appropriate. Responsibilities include allocating human and material resources, managing overtime utilization, and actively supporting recruitment and retention initiatives. Ensures completion of annual competency assessments and fosters professional growth and engagement among all nursing staff. In the domains of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance, the incumbent applies comprehensive, systematic, and innovative problem-solving methods to analyze patient care issues. Using performance data such as nursing-sensitive indicators, Veteran satisfaction metrics, and other quality measures, the incumbent identifies trends, implements proactive solutions, and collaborates with Nurse Managers and the Nurse Executive Team on follow-up actions. Oversight includes conducting audits and reviews of nursing care, ensuring alignment with professional and regulatory standards, and driving corrective actions as indicated. Oversee development and maintenance of scopes of practice for registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and unit-based scopes of care to ensure consistency with current standards and regulations. Functions in the role of Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS) or Deputy ADPCS in their absence when assigned. Performs other duties as assigned, which support the overall mission, operations, and priorities of the organization. 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: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. 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.