Registered Nurse - Deputy Associate Director Patient Care Services

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Wayne, IN

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Deputy Associate Director for Patient Care Services (DADPCS) is an advanced healthcare executive who provides leadership, experience, and innovative approaches to ensure the continuous and timely delivery of high-quality nursing practice across complex patient care services and programs. The incumbent also serves as an executive administrator and consultant to the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS).

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the DADPCS provides leadership on complex healthcare, administrative, and organizational issues affecting the facility's mission, healthcare delivery, and policy. The position represents nursing services and promotes collaboration with other professional disciplines to achieve Veteran-centered organizational goals. It partners with the ADPCS in strategic planning, organizational assessment, and program development, and maintains responsibility and accountability for nursing practice across the organization on a 24/7 basis.

The DADPCS provides oversight for nursing personnel and other allied health staff, exercises line authority over Associate Chief Nurses, and delegates responsibilities to services under the ADPCS. The role supports staff competency evaluation and performance review activities, shared decision-making, a healthy work environment, evidence-based practice, continuous improvement, nursing education, professional development, and research. The incumbent champions High Reliability Organization principles and leads initiatives to improve patient outcomes, healthcare quality, safety, and nursing excellence.

This is a full-time, Monday-through-Friday position scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Ad-hoc telework may be authorized under agency policy; the position is not virtual. Relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized, but permanent change of station is not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduate of an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or another education pathway specified in the qualifications.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse license in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception.
• For Nurse V: a master's degree in nursing and five years of professional nursing experience, including one year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse IV; or a master's degree in a related field with a BSN and the same experience; or a doctoral degree in nursing and four years of professional nursing experience, including one year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse IV; or a doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and the same experience.
• Meet Nurse V dimension requirements in leadership, business acumen, inspiring an industry-leading lifestyle, communication and relationship management, and professional and social responsibility.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Successful completion of applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation and, for selected applicants in testing-designated positions, urinalysis.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Ability to sit or stand for several hours daily and use a computer, keyboard, and mouse frequently.
• Adequate vision and hearing to perform assigned duties; hearing aids are permitted.
• Ability to cope with complex, high-pressure demands, adapt, and shift priorities as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Executive nursing leadership experience, preferably within a VA Medical Center.
• At least three years of progressive leadership experience managing large clinical services or programs.
• Current Certified Nurse Leader certification.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a healthcare executive and member of the Executive Leadership Team, providing leadership on complex healthcare, administrative, and organizational issues.
• Represent nursing services and ensure integration and collaboration with other professional disciplines to achieve Veteran-centered organizational goals.
• Partner with the ADPCS in strategic planning, organizational assessment, and program development.
• Help establish and maintain nursing practice standards across the healthcare system.
• Maintain responsibility and accountability for nursing practice throughout the organization on a 24/7 basis.
• Provide oversight for RNs, APRNs, LPNs, nursing assistants, and other allied health staff, regardless of reporting structure.
• Exercise line authority over Associate Chief Nurses and perform additional duties assigned by the ADPCS.
• Delegate responsibilities and activities to services under the ADPCS's purview.
• Ensure processes evaluate staff competencies and support annual performance reviews.
• Promote shared decision-making and a healthy work environment for nursing staff.
• Encourage evidence-based practice, inquiry, and continuous improvement.
• Support nursing education, professional development, and research.
• Champion High Reliability Organization principles and promote safety, prevention, and evidence-based healthcare solutions.
• Lead initiatives to improve patient outcomes, healthcare quality, and nursing excellence.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, including 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.
• One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior