Chief Nurse Acute Care Nursing 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.

English Language Proficiency
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

(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. - 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.) The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse IV: Scope: Executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care

Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV

OR Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV

OR a Doctoral degree in nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV

OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and 3 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV

*Leads health care delivery by leveraging evidence-based practices - industry-leading research - and innovative care models

Drives a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the program or service level

Transforms health care by implementing new processes - technology - informatics - and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level

Cultivates a workforce that serves Veterans - families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust - lifestyle competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the program or service level

Directs the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional organizational values - beliefs and practices at the program or services level

Operationalizes a lifestyle of holistic care - health advocacy and health equity

Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the program or service level

Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans and the community

Preferred Experience: MSN or DNP/PhD At least five (5) years of progressive management or leadership experience At least three (3) years of experience managing multiple complex acute care units RN experience in acute care Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit

This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with non-direct patient care duties performed by nurses such as potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling

The position may require travel from time to time to support the organization's and Veterans' needs

The travel may be for training or other work-related duties

This assignment may require the operation of a government vehicle for official purposes and possession of a valid driver's license.

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

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 developing processes 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 as the role of 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 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 - Dayshift hours

Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Ad-hoc available Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

#Department of Veterans Affairs