Registered Nurse - Patient Safety Manager

Patient Safety ManagerThe PSM functions as the lead manager and implementer of patient safety policies and activities developed by the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) and is the facility's key person to help build and implement patient safety systems and promote the culture of safety within Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities and for VA patients in all healthcare settings. Direct support is provided to the development, maintenance, and operation of the VHA's patient safety process at the facility level. This includes working with all levels of staff within the facility, including top-level management, Root Cause Analysis (RCA) team members, RCA team leaders, and RCA recorders. Must have the attitude that building the culture of safety is paramount and the foundation upon which safe operations are based. Such a culture takes time to build and requires constant nurturing and reinforcement to maintain. The PSM collaborates with, trains, and directs patient safety activities of personnel within the facility, such as infection control professionals, risk managers and quality managers. Responsible for translating the policies, theories, and strategies into action within the complex interrelationships that exist related to patient safety. They have the primary responsibility for training and implementing patient safety and RCA process to clinicians, management, and all relevant support personnel within their facilities and associated facilities and operations (i.e., home care). The PSM is responsible for maintaining clear communication between the facility and NCPS, both to communicate relevant patient safety information and lessons learned from the facility which have potential impact beyond the local level and to understand changes at the national level in the Patient Safety Program. Performs duties directly contributing to the administrative management of a health care delivery system. Duties require the ability to apply the specialized principles and practices of health care management in directing or supporting a health care delivery system.