Assistant Chief Nurse - Acute Care

Veterans Health Administration • Gainesville, FL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Acute Care Assistant Chief Nurse 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 at the Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville, FL. The Acute Care Assistant Chief Nurse functions as a self-directed clinical leader, educator, and consultant utilizing management theory in collaboration with Patient Care Service (PCS) and other services.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• 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.)
• 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.
• This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care, and potentially long periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients; Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols.

Nice To Haves

• Master's in nursing or Bachelor's in Nursing with a Master's in related Health Care.
• Certification by ANA in Nursing Administration.
• Experience as a Nurse Manager, Supervisor, or Management equivalent, minimum of two years.
• Experience in Acute Care Nursing, 2-5 years.
• Experience in coordinating the daily flow of patient care and vision in interdisciplinary program planning.
• Experience in working with an interdisciplinary healthcare team to achieve short- and long-term goals and objectives.
• Documented evidence of working with colleagues and peers to bring about positive outcomes in clinical practice.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates leadership at the service and/or hospital level, including functioning as a nursing leader with the ability to delegate appropriately.
• Provides executive input in the strategic planning, budget, mission, operational planning, and policy development for the specified service.
• Collaborates with Chief Nurses across the health care system, Deputy Nurse Executive and Associate Director for Patient Care Service to develop goals and objectives that support the strategic plan, meet the needs of veteran patients, satisfy staff, and result in positive clinical and administrative outcomes.
• Demonstrates substantial and continuous responsibility for directing, supervision and managing for the specified Service.
• Aggregates data and demonstrates leadership in the budget process to plan for current, emerging, and future resource requirements (financial, human, material and/or informational) for the specified Service.
• Identifies outcomes and stop gates that can be improved and leads the performance improvement process to improve and/or sustain clinical and administrative outcomes.
• Identifies and develops and/or initiates programs to ensure a safe and therapeutic environment for patients and staff.
• Manages time and leave, and oversees FMLA, Advanced leave, and other special leave.
• Supports VHA's High Reliability Journey as a leader.
• Provides leadership in maintaining standards of nursing and initiatives for system improvements.
• Assists with initiatives for transforming and sustaining the culture of the health system to a "culture of safety".
• Responsible for responding to internal and external communications to ensure a high level of patient satisfaction.
• Promotes and contributes to an environment that is free from discrimination.
• Ensures and consistently complies with VA information security and privacy policies, procedures, rules, and regulations individually and within the specified service.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Regular salary increases
• Potential for performance awards
• 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting)
• Federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• 1 full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager