Chief Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • Battle Creek, MI

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting a Chief Nurse within Mental Health Nursing Service. The Chief Nurse provides senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative nursing operations, as directed by the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS). The role carries substantial and continuous accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and discipline lines and influence the organization’s healthcare mission. The Chief Nurse serves as an advisor, administrator, educator, consultant, and mentor, and as a key member of the nursing executive leadership team. The position oversees nursing care and programs within the service line, supervises nursing staff, and supports integration and collaboration between nursing and other professional disciplines and functional areas.

The Chief Nurse applies knowledge of nursing and emergency nursing regulations, VHA guidelines, medical review criteria, clinical practice and documentation requirements, standards of care, and compliance guidelines. The role promotes a High Reliability Organization approach centered on safety, prevention, systems-based evidence-informed solutions, and collective mindfulness. The Chief Nurse collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and program and service leaders at facility, network, and national levels; maintains effective relationships with VA staff, Veterans, families, and the community; assists the ADPCS with healthcare operations; and contributes recommendations for standards of care, policies, and objectives to enhance nursing.

This is a permanent, non-virtual position at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 80 hours per two-week pay period. Hours may be rotated or extended based on medical center and Veteran needs. Telework is not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or an applicable recognized foreign nursing education pathway or qualifying master's-level bridge program.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception.
• For Nurse IV qualification: a master's degree in nursing and four years of professional nursing experience, including one year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse III; or a master's degree in a related field with a BSN and the same experience; or 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.
• Meet Nurse IV dimension requirements in leadership, business acumen, inspiring an industry-leading lifestyle, communication and relationship management, and professional and social responsibility.
• U.S. citizenship, unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and required background/security investigation; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-employment drug screening.
• Comply with the seasonal influenza vaccination requirement for VA health care personnel.
• Complete the online onboarding process and all application requirements detailed in the announcement.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative nursing operations as directed by the ADPCS.
• Oversee care and provide administrative direction for programs within the service line.
• Supervise nursing staff.
• Apply knowledge of nursing and emergency nursing regulations, VHA guidelines, medical review criteria, clinical practice and documentation requirements, standards of care, and compliance guidelines.
• Promote integration and collaboration between nursing and other professional disciplines and functional areas.
• Champion a High Reliability Organization approach emphasizing safety, prevention, systems-based evidence-informed solutions, and collective mindfulness.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members and program and service leaders at facility and network levels.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with VA staff nationwide, Veterans, families, the community, and local and network leaders.
• Assist the ADPCS with healthcare operations and related functions and activities.
• Contribute recommendations for standards of care, policies, and objectives to enhance nursing.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, comprising 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and 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.

What This Job Offers

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