Registered Nurse (RN) - Patient Safety Manager

Summary Serves as one of the facility's Patient Safety Managers - functioning as a clinical and program expert responsible for building and sustaining the facility's patient safety program. Leads Root Cause Analysis activities - trains staff on patient safety principles - and uses data-driven approaches to promote a culture of safety. Demonstrates leadership and ingenuity in translating national patient safety policy into effective local practice. Program outcomes can be broad - extending facility-wide. 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 than 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/certificationGrade 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/13075665Grade/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 1OR 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 degreesPreferred Experience: Preferred candidates will have clinical leadership experience - with responsibility for staff oversight - mentorship - or program coordinationA master's degree is preferredExperience applying process improvement methodologies (e.g. - Lean - Six Sigma) to clinical or patient safety initiatives is preferred - including facilitating Root Cause Analyses (RCA) or proactive risk assessmentsExperience with High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles is highly desiredReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Physical Requirements: This position may involve considerable amount of standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting - and turningIt requires assisting clients with transfers from wheelchairs/stretchers and transporting them to other departments or facilitiesMechanical devices are available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift clientsThe work may involve pushing or lifting up to 35 pounds and going up and down flights of stairsThe position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing careThe position may require the ability to physically control or defend against emotionally ill clientsThe position also requires ability to work on computers for extended periods of timeBasic Life Support (BLS) is required for RNs in direct patient care positions per policythe supervisor may also direct BLS certification for other positionsAdvanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required in specific specialty areas and assignments per policyIncumbent will be self-directed in completing orientation and on-going mandatory educationWill actively participate in competency assessment and validationSpecialty assignments may require a scope of practice for procedures beyond basic education. Duties VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Duties include but are not limited to the following: Leads and coordinates the facility's patient safety program - implementing policies and activities developed by VA's National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) and serving as the facility's key resource for building and sustaining a culture of safetyDirectly supports the development - maintenance - and operation of the patient safety process at the facility levelLeads Root Cause Analysis (RCA) activities - working with team members - team leaders - and recorders to investigate adverse events and close calls and translate findings into corrective actionTrains clinicians - management - and support personnel facility-wide - and at associated operations - on patient safety principles and RCA methodologyCoordinates the patient safety-related activities of personnel such as infection control professionals - risk managers - and quality managersUtilizes patient safety culture survey data and analysis to assess organizational strengths and gaps and facilitates initiatives to promote and sustain a culture of safetyCollaborates with the interdisciplinary team - leading initiatives that drive continuous process improvementModels High Reliability Organization (HRO) practices and leads forums to reinforce safety principles across the facilityMaintains clear - ongoing communication between the facility and VISN/NCPS - sharing lessons learned with broader applicability and incorporating national-level program changes into local practiceMaintains confidentiality of sensitive information in all activitiesApplies specialized principles and practices of patient safety science to support a systems-based approach to healthcare deliveryDirectly supports facility leadership in the planning - organization - direction - and evaluation of the patient safety programNot all duties may be listed - so other duties may be assignedPay: 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 7:00AM-3:30PM Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual positionRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized