Registered Nurse-Chief Nurse Sterile Processing Service

Veterans Health Administration • Asheville, NC

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina, is seeking a Registered Nurse to serve as Chief Nurse IV for the Sterile Processing Service (SPS). The Chief provides health system-wide leadership for critical and semi-critical reusable medical devices, including sterile storage, reprocessing, standard operating procedures, competency assessment, equipment selection and maintenance, staff education, and SPS quality management.

The Chief oversees SPS operational and administrative activities and, through subordinate supervisors, provides technical and direct supervision to more than 25 Medical Supply Technicians, from GS-3/4 through GS-9. The role manages work to meet program objectives and changing requirements, coordinates production to meet scheduled and unscheduled customer needs, and serves as a liaison between SPS and other departments. The Chief manages SPS equipment inventory and requests equipment replacement as needed.

The position develops and enforces local policies and procedures, leads quality-control and quality-assurance activities, and ensures compliance with applicable policies and regulatory and advisory standards. The Chief represents SPS on committees and at meetings, provides written and verbal reports, and leads staff orientation, training, competency review, and development.

The position is based at the Charles George VA Medical Center and is not virtual. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; ad hoc telework may be available. A relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates; permanent change of station is not authorized.

Requirements

• Graduate from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or meet an applicable education pathway for foreign-educated nurses or nursing bridge-program candidates.
• 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.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• For Nurse IV: a master's degree in nursing and four years of professional nursing experience, including one year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse III; or a master's degree in a related field with a BSN and the same experience; or a doctoral degree in nursing and three years of professional nursing experience, including one year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse III; or a doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and the same experience.
• Meet the Nurse IV scope and dimension criteria 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 qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Complete required pre-employment screening, including urinalysis for applicants selected for a testing-designated position, background/security investigation, onboarding, and physical evaluation/examination.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable.

Nice To Haves

• At least five years of full-time professional administrative leadership and hospital experience in a sterile processing environment.
• Demonstrated success planning and activating new units or programs.
• Leadership experience formulating new policies or practice protocols and preparing programs for accrediting-body reviews, such as Joint Commission.
• Leadership that promotes staff involvement and ownership and results in excellent outcomes for Veterans.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all operational and administrative activities of Sterile Processing Services.
• Lead SPS quality management, including training, competency assessment, and development and enforcement of standard operating procedures.
• Provide technical and direct supervision, through subordinate supervisors, to more than 25 Medical Supply Technicians.
• Manage and adapt work to accomplish program goals and respond to changing program requirements.
• Serve as liaison between SPS and other departments.
• Manage the SPS Equipment Inventory Listing and request replacement of equipment as needed.
• Serve on or advise committees, including Commodity Standardization, Infection Control, Environment of Care, and Reusable Medical Devices committees.
• Attend assigned meetings to represent SPS and provide written and verbal reports.
• Issue, adapt, implement, and maintain local SPS policies and procedures.
• Develop and maintain a quality-control program that ensures product quality through random sampling, biological monitoring, product assessment, and other methods.
• Respond to inquiries from, and solicit assistance from, regulatory and advisory agencies to ensure compliance with applicable policies and procedures.
• Conduct departmental orientation, training, and skills reviews; assist with educational programs and promote staff development.
• Coordinate and integrate production requirements to meet scheduled and unscheduled customer needs.
• Provide health system-wide leadership for reusable medical devices, including sterile storage, reprocessing, equipment selection and maintenance, and staff education.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and 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 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.
• Relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

What This Job Offers

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