Registered Nurse - Accreditation Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Columbia, SC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Accreditation Specialist is responsible for the oversight, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of an effective accreditation readiness program across William Jennings Bryan Dorn Columbia VA Health Care System (VAHCS) programs. The specialist leads accreditation readiness processes for Joint Commission programs (Hospital, Long Term Care, Behavioral Health, and Home Care), the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the Office of the Inspector General, and other internal and external reviews. The role contributes to continued accreditation and the quality and safety of patient care by facilitating proactive and corrective improvements to meet accreditation standards and regulatory, VA, and VHA requirements. The specialist also supports and assures completion of ongoing assessments and quality-monitoring actions by services and subject-matter experts to evaluate compliance.

The position is onsite in Columbia, South Carolina; telework and virtual work are not available. The stated work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., subject to change based on agency needs. The VA offers a total rewards package that includes competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential performance awards, paid time off, federal retirement benefits, and insurance programs.

Requirements

• Graduate from an approved school of professional nursing accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or meet an applicable stated education exception for bridge-program or foreign-school graduates.
• Hold current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the applicable VA Nurse grade and level.
• Be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet U.S. citizenship requirements, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and applicable background/security investigation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Meet the stated physical and mental/sensory requirements, including lifting, prolonged standing and sitting, frequent bending and walking, climbing, reaching, pulling, pushing, repetitive motion, stooping, and the ability to handle multiple priorities and adapt to change.

Nice To Haves

• Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience.
• Experience with healthcare regulatory standards, specifically Joint Commission, CMS, and the Office of Inspector General.
• Experience in healthcare Quality and Patient Safety programs, including Accreditation, Patient Safety, Process Improvement, Data Analysis, and Performance Measures.

Responsibilities

• Oversee, coordinate, implement, and evaluate the accreditation readiness program across Columbia VAHCS programs.
• Lead accreditation readiness processes for Joint Commission programs, including Hospital, Long Term Care, Behavioral Health, and Home Care; the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities; the Office of the Inspector General; and other internal and external reviews.
• Facilitate the development, implementation, and sustainment of proactive and corrective improvements to meet accreditation standards and regulatory, VA, and VHA requirements.
• Facilitate and support ongoing assessments and quality-monitoring actions by services and subject-matter experts.
• Assure completion of assessments and monitoring actions evaluating compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Contribute to continued accreditation and the quality and safety of patient care.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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 5-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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree