Associate Chief Nurse - Patient Services Education, Research and Practice

Veterans Health Administration • New York, NY

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Chief Nurse – Patient Services Education, Research and Practice is a Nurse IV leadership position at the Margaret Cochran VA Campus in Manhattan, within the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System. The system provides care to eligible Veterans through three medical centers and two community-based outpatient clinics. The role provides senior leadership for patient and staff education programs, oversees education initiatives and compliance with VA training requirements, and leads interdisciplinary collaboration across the facility and VISN. It manages program operations, budgets, trainee programs, and evidence-based practice activities while fostering safety, learning, and high-quality Veteran-centered care. The position is directed by the Associate Director for Patient Care Services and provides supervision and guidance to nursing and administrative support staff.

The position requires a graduate nursing education and an active, unrestricted U.S. nursing license. Nurse IV qualification requires a master's or doctoral degree in nursing or a qualifying related field, together with the specified professional nursing experience and specialized experience equivalent to Nurse III. Candidates must meet the Nurse IV scope and dimension criteria, including leadership, business acumen, communication and relationship management, and professional and social responsibility.

This is a Monday–Friday position with a 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. schedule. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The role is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from a qualifying accredited school of professional nursing, or an eligible alternative education pathway described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted graduate professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a limited Graduate Nurse Technician exception is described for candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the Nurse IV scope, education, and dimension criteria.
• Qualifying education and experience: an MSN and four years of professional nursing experience, including one year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse III; a master's degree in a related field with a BSN and the same experience; a doctoral degree in nursing and three years of professional nursing experience, including one year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse III; or a doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and the same experience.
• Demonstrated Nurse IV dimensions: leadership; business acumen; inspiring an industry-leading lifestyle; communication and relationship management; and professional and social responsibility.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Selected applicants must complete required screening and onboarding, including urinalysis for applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated positions, a background/security investigation, and a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Applicants may be required to serve a probationary period and must complete application requirements detailed in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Five years of progressive leadership experience in a Level 1 acute care medical center.
• VA RN nursing and leadership experience and/or nurse education experience in a Level 1 medical center.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative functions of the Education Department as directed by the Associate Director for Patient Care Services.
• Supervise Patient Services Education, the Competency Program, the Coach Mentor Program, and the Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) Program.
• Manage service-specific employee orientation and ensure onboarding meets organizational standards.
• Assess education needs and plan, deliver, and evaluate patient and staff education activities.
• Serve as the Patient Services Education liaison to the VISN Education Council.
• Oversee fiscal management of education program funding, scholarship programs, and student and resident programs, including VA-STEP, the Post-Baccalaureate Nurse Residency (PBNR), and Registered Nurse Transition to Practice (RNTTP).
• Plan, forecast, and monitor budgets for education and affiliation programs.
• Provide supervision and guidance to nursing and administrative support staff.
• Participate in performance improvement activities and support compliance with department and facility goals.
• Support interdisciplinary collaboration to meet patient-centered and organizational objectives.
• Coordinate and evaluate research and evidence-based practice initiatives related to patient education, nursing practice, and staff development.

Benefits

• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Regular salary increases and potential performance awards.

What This Job Offers

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