Registered Nurse - Associate Chief of Nursing

Chief Nurse

Bring your nursing leadership expertise to a highly visible executive role where you can influence care across the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System. As Chief Nurse, you will guide Nurse Managers and partner with clinical and executive leaders to strengthen nursing operations, design interdisciplinary programs, optimize resources, and advance quality, safety, and access for Veterans. This position offers the opportunity to shape nursing practice across diverse clinical settings while developing teams, supporting innovation, translating evidence into practice, and contributing to strategic decisions that improve care throughout the organization.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Lead nursing operations across primary care, outpatient specialty medicine, the Emergency Department, community-based outpatient clinics, telehealth, and occupational health programs.
• Direct and support Nurse Managers responsible for clinical programs, daily operations, nursing practice, and delivery of Veteran-centered care across assigned areas.
• Collaborate with physician chiefs, medical directors, and other organizational leaders to design and implement interdisciplinary programs and processes that strengthen care delivery.
• Evaluate clinical operations, quality measures, and performance data to identify trends, develop improvement strategies, and drive measurable outcomes for Veterans.
• Guide workforce planning through staffing analysis, resource allocation, recruitment, retention, professional development, and succession planning.
• Develop and improve nursing systems, policies, and operational processes that enhance communication, patient care, safety, efficiency, and organizational performance.
• Build effective partnerships across disciplines and organizational levels while serving as an advisor, administrator, educator, consultant, and mentor to nursing and health care leaders.
• Champion evidence-based practice, innovation, high-reliability principles, and strategic change initiatives that advance accessible, safe, and high-quality Veteran care.

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: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm

Telework: ADHOC-May be authorized (Employee who telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement)

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Travel Requirements: You may be expected to travel 25% or less of the time for this position to various care locations within the service area, including Veteran homes as part of Home Health care delivery. You must possess and maintain a current, valid, unrestricted state-issued driver's license. You must provide a safe, clean driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) during onboarding. You must successfully complete a driver's physical examination to demonstrate medical ability to safely operate a government-owned or leased vehicle, as required under 5 CFR 930 and HR Job Aid 05-OB-010.002. The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.