Registered Nurse - Quality Management Consultant

Summary This Registered Nurse - Quality Management Consultant position is in the Sterile Processing service at the West Haven VA Connecticut Healthcare Systems - located in West Haven - CT. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. Qualifications Basic Requirements: English Language ProficiencyIn 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 EnglishGraduate 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 programUpon 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 programCredit 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 ColumbiaGraduate 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/certificationPreferred Experience: Extensive knowledge of Sterile Processing Services equipment - processes and workflowKnowledge of quality management systemsExperience with quality audits and inspections to verify standards complianceEducation/Training/Mentorship experienceGrade 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 gradeThe 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/13097997Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competenciesAn Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing requiredNurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complexAn ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience requiredNurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planningSelf-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situationsAn ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experienceOR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experienceNurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with othersA BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experienceOR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experienceNurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice settingMSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IIIOR 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 IIIOR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IIIOR 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 degreesReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Physical Requirements: Position is subject to a pre-employment physical and medical examinationThis position requires: lifting - carryingreaching above shoulderuse of fingerswalking (8 hours)standing (8 hours)repeated bendingworking aloneprotracted or irregular hours of work and occasional emotional strain. Duties The Registered Nurse - Quality Management Consultant focuses on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction in quality-of-care outcomesThe QM Consultant brings principals and theory with limited application of critical thinking skillsDuties include but are not limited to: Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates quality assurance and quality control activities related to the cleaning - decontamination - inspection - assembly - packaging - sterilization - storage - and distribution of reusable instruments and equipmentCollaborates with SPS leadership - staff - and interdisciplinary teams to identify operational concerns - reduce errors - standardize practices - and support process improvement initiativesCoordinates assigned quality activities to improve instrument set accuracy - reprocessing reliability - workflow efficiency - timely availability of instruments and equipment - and customer satisfactionFollows established policies - procedures - guidelines - and manufacturer instructions for useSupports monitoring of staff compliance and identification of practices requiring clarification - education - or corrective actionApplies sterile processing principles and quality management concepts while developing critical thinking skills to recognize process variations - evaluate potential causes of deficiencies - and recommend improvementsParticipates in evaluating SPS program outcomes through audits - quality control checks - and performance monitoringAssists in determining whether improvement activities and corrective actions achieve intended results and sustain gains in quality - safety - accuracy - and efficiencyAssumes responsibility for assigned SPS quality management program activities at the Medical Center and applicable off-site locations - supporting consistent practices and coordination across service areasCollects and analyzes quality data - reviews reprocessing and sterilization monitoring documentation - monitors compliance with relevant policies and standards - and prepares reports identifying trends and opportunities for improvementProvides staff support in planning - designing - implementing - modifying - and evaluating assigned SPS quality management activitiesParticipates in facility councils - committees - and workgroups addressing sterile processing quality - safety - compliance - and operational improvementShares findings and contributes to the development and follow-up of action plansWork Schedule: Monday- Friday day shift with evening/weekends if neededTelework: Ad-hoc as determined by agency policyVirtual: This is not a virtual positionRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not AuthorizedPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedNotifications: This position is not a AFGE Bargaining Unit positionCurrent and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action)The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously heldThis position is in the Excepted ServiceThe salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidatePay: 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 territoryVA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards