Registered Nurse-Quality Management Assistant Chief

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Wayne, IN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse-Assistant Chief of Quality Management provides senior nursing leadership with substantial and ongoing accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and discipline lines. The position influences the organization’s mission and healthcare delivery and is accountable for outcomes.

The Assistant Chief Nurse builds effective working relationships across the medical center and communicates with customers, families, community partners, and leaders at local and network levels. The role contributes to standards of care, policies, and objectives that advance nursing practice; supports policy development for customer service and effective administrative and clinical operations; and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to maintain programs spanning services and professions. It provides leadership at the service or hospital level, delegates responsibilities, and performs administrative functions across areas including education, medical specialties, and procedural services.

The position analyzes aggregate data, participates in budget planning, anticipates resource needs, and leads resource allocation to support operational readiness and high-quality patient outcomes. It promotes patient- and family-centered care, ethical decision-making, accountability, culturally competent care, and cost-effective outcomes. The Assistant Chief Nurse also develops partnerships across the continuum of care, supports evidence-based and equitable care delivery models, ensures compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements, aligns clinical priorities with organizational goals, and participates in strategic planning and implementation. The role promotes an inclusive workplace and supports the organization’s mission and vision.

This is a full-time, non-virtual position with a Monday–Friday schedule listed as 07630–1600. Compressed or flexible scheduling and telework are not available. Occasional travel may be required when providing off-site training. The position requires a current, full, unrestricted nursing license from a U.S. state or territory. VA describes its total rewards package as including competitive salary, regular increases, potential performance awards, paid time off, retirement benefits, and federal insurance programs.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying foreign nursing education with required equivalency validation, as applicable.
• Current, full, active, unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; the posting also identifies an exception for qualifying Graduate Nurse Technicians pursuing licensure.
• Meet the applicable VA Nurse grade and level requirements for education, specialized nursing experience, and professional dimensions.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, and manual dexterity.
• Ability to work for potentially long periods involving walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations and shift priorities according to organizational needs.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Selected applicants must complete required pre-employment screening, including a physical evaluation, background/security investigation, and urinalysis for testing-designated positions.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA healthcare personnel.
• A probationary period may be required.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience developing, organizing, and directing clinical and non-clinical operational activities.
• One year of experience analyzing plans and actions related to practice, quality, and safety issues.
• One year of experience with performance measurement and improvement-process analysis.
• One year of experience with policy compliance and identifying patterns or trends used to redesign systems and improve quality.

Responsibilities

• Establish and sustain effective relationships with personnel throughout the medical center and communicate with customers, families, community partners, and local and network leaders.
• Contribute ideas and recommendations for standards of care, policies, and objectives that advance nursing practice.
• Support policy development related to customer service and effective administrative and clinical program operations.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to develop and maintain programs crossing service and professional boundaries.
• Provide nursing leadership at the service or hospital level and delegate responsibilities appropriately.
• Perform administrative functions across areas such as education, medical specialties, and procedural services.
• Analyze aggregate data and participate in budget processes to identify and plan for current, emerging, and future resource needs.
• Anticipate resource requirements and lead resource allocation to support operational readiness and high-quality outcomes.
• Promote and model patient- and family-centered care throughout patient care services.
• Participate in professional organizations to strengthen leadership competencies and support career development.
• Apply ethical principles in decision-making and promote accountability at individual, organizational, and staff levels.
• Equip staff with resources to provide culturally competent care and reinforce accountability for high-quality, cost-effective outcomes.
• Build partnerships across the continuum of care through active listening, engagement, and emotional intelligence.
• Support development of evidence-based, accessible, affordable, and equitable care delivery models and therapeutic environments.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements, directives, policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Align nursing and clinical priorities with organizational strategic goals and participate in strategic planning and implementation.
• Promote an inclusive workplace that values diversity and advances the organization’s vision and mission.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days annual leave, 13 days 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.

What This Job Offers

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