Registered Nurse - Risk Manager

Veterans Health Administration • Washington, DC

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Risk Manager RN manages, coordinates, implements, and evaluates the medical center’s Risk Management Program in accordance with applicable Veterans Health Administration directives, VA policies, and regulatory requirements. The role provides leadership in identifying, assessing, monitoring, and mitigating clinical and organizational risks to promote patient safety, improve healthcare quality, and support a culture of high reliability.

The incumbent oversees risk management activities, including VHA Quality and Patient Safety Programs, Peer Review for Quality Management, tort claims, administrative investigations, and disclosure of adverse events to patients. The position conducts clinical practice reviews, reviews outcomes and resource utilization, analyzes clinical and administrative data, maintains risk-management tracking systems, and recommends corrective actions and process improvements. It collaborates with medical center leadership and interdisciplinary teams, provides consultation and education, supports performance improvement and accreditation readiness, and communicates risk-management findings to leadership. The role also promotes Veteran-centered care, patient safety, accountability, transparency, confidentiality, and continuous improvement.

This is a permanent, non-virtual position with an Monday–Friday work schedule of 0800–1630 and ad-hoc telework as needed by the agency. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position requires a current, full, active, unrestricted nursing registration and graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the applicable education and grade requirements. The role requires English proficiency and may require completion of a probationary period and annual Employee Health requirements.

Requirements

• Graduate from a professional nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or meet the stated qualifying education provisions for bridge-program or foreign-school graduates.
• Hold current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; the announcement describes a limited Graduate Nurse Technician exception for eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Demonstrate basic written and spoken English proficiency.
• Meet the education and specialized nursing experience requirements applicable to the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• 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 undergo required pre-employment screening, including drug testing for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable.
• Complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual Employee Health requirements.
• Complete all application requirements specified in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Background in legal nurse consulting or claims review.
• Experience with VA-specific tools such as the Clinical Risk Insight Portal or similar dashboards.
• Project management or Lean Six Sigma process-improvement experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage, coordinate, implement, and evaluate the medical center’s Risk Management Program in accordance with VHA directives, VA policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide oversight of risk management activities, including VHA Quality and Patient Safety Programs, peer review, tort claims, administrative investigations, and disclosure of adverse events to patients.
• Conduct clinical practice reviews to assess compliance with standards of care, clinical practice guidelines, and organizational policies.
• Review clinical outcomes and healthcare resource utilization to identify risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve patient safety and quality of care.
• Coordinate and maintain databases and tracking systems related to tort claims, peer reviews, and other risk management activities.
• Review, analyze, and evaluate clinical and administrative data to identify trends, potential safety concerns, and areas requiring corrective action.
• Collaborate with medical center leadership, clinical providers, nursing staff, and administrative personnel to identify and address risk management concerns.
• Provide consultation and recommendations regarding healthcare resource utilization, efficiency, and patient-care outcomes.
• Assess organizational risks, develop evaluation methods, and recommend corrective actions to improve patient safety and healthcare delivery.
• Follow up on identified risks and corrective actions to evaluate effectiveness and promote sustainable improvements.
• Develop, coordinate, and provide staff education and training on risk management policies, procedures, reporting requirements, and patient safety practices.
• Monitor changes in VHA directives, VISN guidance, and regulatory requirements and help ensure local policies and procedures remain compliant.
• Evaluate healthcare processes and recommend improvements based on professional nursing standards, clinical evidence, and organizational performance data.
• Participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement initiatives to assess healthcare delivery, reduce risks, and improve patient outcomes.
• Compile, analyze, and communicate risk management data and findings to medical center leadership.
• Participate in and lead interdisciplinary committees, workgroups, shared governance activities, and patient safety initiatives.
• Support high reliability principles and promote a culture of safety, accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a clinical and professional resource on risk management, patient safety, and evidence-based practices.
• Identify risk-management education and competency needs and coordinate appropriate staff training.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement evidence-based practices that improve patient-care quality, safety, and effectiveness.
• Promote effective communication, teamwork, professional accountability, ethical decision-making, and a respectful work environment.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive patient, employee, and organizational information in accordance with applicable laws, directives, and policies.
• Support accreditation readiness and compliance with Joint Commission, regulatory, and organizational standards.
• Improve Veteran-centered care by addressing patient experience, safety, timeliness, and coordination of services.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, consisting of 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of 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.
• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package.

What This Job Offers

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