Nurse - Deputy Associate Director for Patient Care Service (DADPCS)/Deputy Nurse Executive (DNE)

Veterans Health Administration • Anchorage, AK

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nurse IV Deputy Associate Director for Patient Care Service (DADPCS)/Deputy Nurse Executive (DNE) is a highly experienced healthcare executive responsible for leadership and administration across complex patient-care services and programs. The role supports the consistent and timely delivery of quality nursing practice and influences organizational mission, healthcare, and policy. The DADPCS/DNE is accountable to the Associate Director for Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive (ADPCS/NE) and is an integral member of the senior leadership team and Executive Leadership Team. The incumbent represents organized nursing services and promotes integration and collaboration between nursing and other professional disciplines and functional areas to achieve Veteran-centered organizational goals.

Working closely with the ADPCS/NE, the DADPCS/DNE contributes to strategic planning, organizational assessment, and program development, and helps establish health-system nursing practice standards. The role is responsible for nursing practice 24/7 across registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and allied health staff, regardless of line authority, and has line authority over Associate Chief Nurses. The incumbent may receive additional duties from the ADPCS/NE and delegates responsibilities to assigned services.

The position exercises preliminary approval over job descriptions, policies and procedures, standards of patient care, treatment and services, nursing practice standards, staffing plans, functional statements, and measures for assessing and improving patient outcomes. It ensures processes are in place to evaluate individual competency and review annual performance ratings. The DADPCS/DNE promotes shared decision-making, a healthy nursing work environment, evidence-based practice, and an academic environment supportive of education and research. The incumbent champions a High Reliability Organization approach founded on collective mindfulness to develop evidence-based healthcare solutions that promote prevention and safety.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. 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 qualifying foreign nursing education and degree-equivalency validation as applicable.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment exception may apply to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet Nurse IV scope requirements, including substantial and continuous leadership responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs crossing service or discipline lines and influencing organizational mission and healthcare.
• One of the stated education and experience pathways: an MSN and four years of professional nursing experience, including one year equivalent to Nurse III; a related master's degree with a BSN and the same experience; a doctoral degree in nursing and three years of professional nursing experience, including one year equivalent to Nurse III; or a related doctoral degree with a BSN and the same experience.
• Meet the 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 is required, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Selected applicants must complete applicable pre-employment screening, onboarding, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation; drug testing applies to applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated positions.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA healthcare personnel.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Applicants must complete the application requirements in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• At least five years of demonstrated success in executive or senior nursing leadership, including oversight of complex healthcare operations, multiple service lines, or diverse clinical programs.
• Advanced clinical and operational expertise, strong business acumen, and exceptional leadership skills.
• A demonstrated ability to drive quality outcomes, workforce engagement, regulatory compliance, and organizational performance in a dynamic healthcare environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and administration for complex nursing services and programs, supporting the consistent and timely provision of quality nursing practice.
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team and Executive Leadership Team and represent organized nursing services.
• Promote integration and collaboration between nursing, other professional disciplines, and functional areas to advance Veteran-centered organizational goals.
• Partner with the ADPCS/NE on strategic planning, organizational assessment, and program development.
• Assist in establishing health-system standards for nursing practice and ensure the continuous and timely availability of quality nursing services.
• Oversee nursing practice 24/7 for registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and allied health staff, regardless of line authority.
• Exercise line authority over Associate Chief Nurses and perform additional duties assigned by the ADPCS/NE.
• Exercise preliminary approval of job descriptions, policies and procedures, patient-care standards, nursing practice standards, staffing plans, functional statements, and standards for measuring, assessing, and improving patient outcomes.
• Delegate activities to services assigned under the purview of the ADPCS/NE.
• Ensure processes are in place to evaluate individual competency and review annual performance ratings.
• Promote shared decision-making, a healthy work environment for nursing, evidence-based practice, and an academic environment supportive of education and research.
• Champion a High Reliability Organization approach using collective mindfulness and evidence-based solutions that promote prevention and safety.

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 a 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