Assistant Chief Nurse (HBPC, Program Director) - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Summary The Assistant Chief Nurse HBPC 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, influence organizational mission and health care, and responsibility for outcomes. Responsibilities Vancouver, Washington sits on the north bank of the Columbia River directly across from Portland, Oregon. The Pacific Coast is less than 90 miles to the west. The Cascade Mountain Range rises on the east. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mt. Hood are less than two hours away! Get out and enjoy nature along the Columbia River! The Columbia River provides wonderful opportunities to take in the evergreen forests, agriculture and vast wildlife. It is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. You can visit the Columbia River Gorge and the Vancouver Waterfront Park Vancouver Waterfront Park which is approximately 7.3-acres. From hiking or biking trails, Vancouver's best fall foliage to history, Historic Sites, dance and art festivals Arts & Culture Vancouver WA has a lot to offer. If you want to enjoy a plethora of family filled activities you can enjoy a mix of a major metropolitan area with a small-town charm, this is the place to call home. The Assistant Chief Nurse HBPC demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients. Duties include but not limited to: Functions as a self-directed clinical leader, educator, and consultant utilizing management theory in collaboration with Rehabilitation and Long-term/ Extended Care (RLTC) Division and other services. Establishes and maintains effective relationships with all levels of medical center personnel and relate effectively with customers, families, and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels. Assists Nurse Managers (NM) to carry out the functions and activities expected of them. Contributes ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of nursing organization-wide, while assisting in policy-making activities as related to customer service and the overall functioning of administrative and clinical programs. Collaborates with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. Demonstrates leadership at the service and/or hospital level, including functioning as a nursing leader with the ability to delegate appropriately. Performs administrative functions to assistant the Associate Chief Nurse (ACN) which include but are not limited to educational programs, medicine specialty, procedural areas, etc. Assists with aggregate data and participate in the budget process to plan for current, emerging, and future resource requirements for operational status. Provides leadership in determining the allocation of resources based on patient care systems that produce high-quality outcomes. Actively supports and role models patient-family centered care concepts in patient care services. Engages in professional organizations to enhance leadership and career growth. Adheres to ethical principles in decision-making, fostering accountability at personal, organizational, and staff levels. Equips staff with tools for culturally competent care and promote a culture of accountability for high-quality, cost-effective outcomes. Cultivates alliances across the care continuum, building trust through active listening, engagement, and emotional intelligence. Assists with the development of care delivery models and environmental design, ensuring evidence-based, accessible, affordable, and equitable patient care. Ensures compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards, directives, policies, and standards operating procedures (SOP). Aligns nursing/clinical objectives with organizational strategic outcomes, participating in strategy planning and execution. Promotes an inclusive workplace valuing diversity to achieve the organizations vision and mission. 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, 0730-1600 or 0800-1630. Telework: Ad-Hoc only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 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. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); 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., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. 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.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12566380. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44lbs light; Moderate carrying, 15-44lbs; Straight pulling 0.5hrs; Pushing 0.5hrs; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking 3hrs; Standing 4hrs; Kneeling 1hrs; Repeated bending 1hr; Climbing, legs only 1hr; Both legs required; Operate of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Specific visual requirement (at least 20/40 each eye); Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of color; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Mental and emotional stability required. Environmental Factors: Outside and inside; Excessive heat; Excessive cold; Dust; Fumes, smoke, or gases; Slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Working around moving objects; Working closely with others; Working alone; Animal dander; Insects. Education Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.