Registered Nurse-Chief of Acute Care

Veterans Health Administration • Johnson City, TN

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nurse IV, Chief Nurse (CN) for Acute Care (Medical-Surgical unit) provides senior leadership and oversight for the daily clinical and administrative operations of Acute Care nursing, as directed by the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS) or Deputy Associate Director for Patient Care Services (DADPCS). The role carries substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and discipline lines and influence the organizational healthcare mission. The Chief Nurse is a member of the nursing executive leadership team and is responsible for all aspects of care within the Acute Care nursing service line.

The Nurse IV performs administrative functions for assigned nursing units and programs and serves as an advisor, administrator, educator, consultant, and mentor. The role supervises staff involved in Acute Care nursing operations and applies knowledge of nursing regulations, VHA guidelines, medical review criteria, clinical practice and documentation requirements, standards of care, and compliance guidelines. The Chief Nurse supports collaboration between nursing and other disciplines, promotes patient-centered and organizational goals, and champions a High Reliability Organization approach grounded in safety, prevention, evidence-based solutions, and collective mindfulness.

The Chief Nurse collaborates with interdisciplinary team members and program and service leaders across the VA, communicates with customers, families, and community partners, and contributes recommendations for standards of care, policies, and objectives that enhance nursing. This opportunity is open to current VHA employees only. The position is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Graduate of an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying equivalent nursing education as specified in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered professional nurse license in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet Nurse IV scope and dimension criteria, including leadership, business acumen, shared decision-making and workforce development, communication and relationship management, and professional and social responsibility.
• One of the following education and experience combinations: MSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience, including 1 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 3 years of professional nursing experience, including 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse III; or a doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and the same experience.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Comply with required pre-employment drug testing if selected for a testing-designated position, background/security investigation, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Meet any applicable probationary-period and application-document requirements.
• Meet the position's physical requirements, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and capacity for potentially long periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, lifting 10 pounds or more, and pushing; patient or object transfers may be required.
• Current VHA employees only.

Nice To Haves

• Three to five years of documented progressive nursing experience, such as Nurse Manager, senior leadership, and/or Program Director experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative operations within Acute Care nursing as directed by the ADPCS/DADPCS.
• Serve as a member of the nursing executive leadership team and oversee all aspects of care within the Acute Care nursing service line.
• Perform administrative functions for assigned nursing units and programs.
• Supervise staff involved in daily Acute Care nursing operations, including nursing and administrative staff.
• Apply knowledge of Acute Care nursing regulations, VHA guidelines, medical review criteria, clinical practice and documentation requirements, standards of care, and compliance guidelines.
• Support integration and collaboration between nursing and other professional disciplines and functional areas to achieve patient-centered and organizational goals.
• Champion a High Reliability Organization safety culture using systems-based, evidence-based solutions focused on prevention and collective mindfulness.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members and program and service leaders across the VA organization.
• Communicate with customers, families, community partners, and program and service leaders across the VA organization.
• Contribute ideas and recommendations for nursing standards of care, policies, and objectives.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 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 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