Patient Safety Specialist - RN (2026-0764)

Renton, WA • Full-time • Salary range: $104,383 – $156,575/year (DOE)

About the role

The Patient Safety Specialist in the Quality Department supports and facilitates ongoing organization-wide patient safety and related performance improvement activities. This position works closely with clinical and operational leaders in pursuit of high reliability, clinical excellence, and zero preventable patient harm.

Responsibilities

• Assists in planning, coordinating, and implementing VMC’s Patient Safety program in collaboration with the Director of High Reliability.
• Performs clinical review and assessment of patient safety events including investigation, interviews, and analysis.
• Serves as subject matter expert on reporting requirements for DOH Adverse events, The Joint Commission sentinel events, and serious safety events.
• Partners with risk management, peer review, and senior leadership on risk mitigation and appropriate response to serious patient harm events.
• Leads teams in cause analysis and action planning process to identify and mitigate individual and system failure modes.
• Monitors patient safety trends, prepares, and presents annual report on patient safety to quality committees.
• Acts as the Committee Chairperson or Co-chairperson for Quality and/or Patient Safety related committees as assigned.
• Acts as a clinical expert and provides consultation and direction to ensure programs and services are implemented at the highest standards; provides quality and safety guidance in relation to proposed workflow and policy/procedure changes.
• Uses project management skills such as developing communication and presentation materials for leaders, updating senior leadership on status of projects, barriers, and accomplishments, engaging stakeholders, and change management.
• Manages the safety event reporting system including training and education for leaders on event management, appropriate follow-up, and communication with staff about patient safety.
• Teaches TeamSTEPPS course at New Employee Orientation and on request.
• Collaborates with the Regulatory & Compliance Manager to create materials for submission to regulatory bodies as needed.
• Provides education to physicians, organization leaders, and staff regarding patient safety and high reliability strategies and techniques.
• Actively pursues new knowledge and skills, staying abreast of the latest developments in the quality and patient safety field.
• Completes data validation to assist in report development.
• Participates in chart audit and data entry for regulatory, certification, and recognition needs as directed.
• Participates in preparation for regulatory or certification surveys as directed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing or other health care related field required; master’s degree preferred.
• Current unrestricted WA State Registered Nurse license.
• Minimum three (3) years of clinical experience in a health care setting.
• Proficiency in cause analysis, safety event classification, human error, and safety science.
• Demonstrated skills for project management, problem solving, decision making, and change management.
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) or Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) preferred.

Skills

• Excellent facilitation skills; ability to create an environment that encourages open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving.
• Genuine connection with frontline staff; offers clear, concise information and supportive feedback.
• Skilled in translating organizational patient safety objectives into actionable tasks.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple demands and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Experience facilitating Root Cause Analysis and performance improvement teams.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis tools such as fishbone, timeline, 5 whys, and action planning.
• Working knowledge of the Press Ganey HPI Safety Event Classification model.
• Knowledge of regulatory standards related to reportable safety events including the National Quality Forum Serious Reportable Events, Department of Health Adverse Events, and The Joint Commission Sentinel Events.
• Ability to prepare effective oral and written reports and presentations to various groups including physicians, hospital leaders, and staff.

Schedule

Typically, days Monday – Friday. Some flexibility may be required.