Nursing Excellence Registered Nurse - Chief Nurse

Summary This Nursing Excellence Registered Nurse - Chief Nurse position is located in the Associate Director - Patient Care service line at the West Haven campus. This is a full‑time 40‑hour per week position. Qualifications English language proficiency: Basic written and spoken English, per 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Individuals attending a master’s level bridge program in nursing with coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Nursing may be eligible to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion. Upon achievement of a state license, the individual may be appointed on a temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6. Foreign nursing graduates: possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration meets the requirement for appointment as a nurse who has completed an approved program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher than associate degree 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 U.S. State, territory, or Commonwealth. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: candidates may be appointed at the entry step on a 120‑day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years). Preferred: 3‑5 years of progressive nursing leadership, Magnet experience, and experience with Pathways to Excellence. Preferred: Demonstrated ability to foster sustained excellence with improved patient outcomes. The following Scope‑Education‑Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse IV: Scope: Executes leadership characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines. 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. OR Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience meeting the criteria. OR Doctoral degree in nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience meeting the criteria. OR Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and 3 years of professional nursing experience meeting the criteria. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Dimensions: Leadership, Business Acumen, Inspiring an Industry‑Leading Lifestyle, Communication and Relationship Management, Professional and Social Responsibility. Physical requirements: Applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. A pre‑placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment. Duties Provide leadership, support, and guidance in establishing and maintaining nursing excellence, shaping clinical practice through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence and Magnet programs. Implement an evidence‑based practice (EBP) model and oversee nursing professional governance and related activities. Assume leadership role in regulatory compliance for internal and external oversight bodies and VHA performance measures. Champion a professional nursing practice environment that supports clinical inquiry, innovation, and excellence. Serve as a consultant and mentor for evidence‑based practice and performance improvement initiatives aligned with the facility’s mission. Ensure systems and processes provide safe, quality care consistent with external benchmarks. Lead PI initiatives by identifying quality metrics and data trends, maintaining the quality metric dashboard, and acting as an expert in data analysis and display. Minimize fragmentation of healthcare delivery and optimize outcomes in a cost‑effective manner. Adhere to ethical principles in decision‑making, fostering accountability at personal, organizational, and staff levels. Equip staff with tools for competent care and promote accountability for high‑quality, cost‑effective outcomes. Support integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas. Champion a High‑Reliability Organization (HRO) of safety founded on a systems approach to evidence‑based health care solutions. Build alliances across the care continuum, fostering trust through active listening, engagement, and emotional intelligence. Compensation and benefits: Competitive salary with regular increases and potential performance awards. 50 days paid time off per year: 26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 federal holidays. Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and 401K with up to 5% VA contribution. Comprehensive Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care insurance. Licensure: One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. State, territory, or Commonwealth. Work schedule: Full‑time, 40 hours per week; compressed tour potential; not virtual. Financial disclosure report: Not required. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF‑50 identifying position details. Position is in the Excepted Service; salary based on grade and step approved for the selected candidate. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs