Registered Nurse - Designated Education Officer

Veterans Health Administration • Altoona, PA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nurse IV Designated Education Officer (DEO) provides senior leadership, administration, education, consultation, and mentorship for health professions education at a VA facility. The role is accountable for the quality of health professions training programs and the care delivered by trainees, and provides oversight and education support for paid and without-compensation trainees and other stakeholders across a complex health care system.

The DEO manages programs spanning undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate education, including students, externs, interns, residents, fellows, and advanced fellows. Supported programs may include medical, dental, nursing, associated health, advanced fellowship, and limited non-clinical programs. The DEO works with the Veterans Health Administration Office of Academic Affiliations on policies, guidance, funding, oversight, expansion, and evaluation of academic affiliations and trainee education.

The position provides subject-matter expertise and leadership on health professions education projects and assignments; develops, analyzes, makes decisions on, and implements policy affecting the VA health care system under VHA Directives (OAA 1400 series). It also supports collaboration between nursing and other professional disciplines and functional areas, and champions a high-reliability, safety-focused, evidence-based approach to health care. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; compressed or flexible scheduling, telework, and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• Graduate of an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying equivalent education as described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered professional nurse license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; specified Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet Nurse IV scope, education, and dimension criteria, including one of the following: an MSN and four years of professional nursing experience, including one year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse III; a related-field master's degree with a BSN and the same experience; a nursing doctoral degree and three years of professional nursing experience, including one year of specialized experience equivalent to Nurse III; or a related-field doctoral degree with a BSN and the same experience.
• Meet Nurse IV dimensions in leadership, business acumen, inspiring an industry-leading lifestyle, communication and relationship management, and professional and social responsibility.
• U.S. citizenship, unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Selected applicants must complete applicable pre-employment screening and onboarding, including a background/security investigation and pre-employment physical evaluation; applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated positions are subject to drug screening.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Doctoral degree in a health profession, as required by VHA Directive 1400.03 for a Designated Education Officer.
• Leadership experience in healthcare and education.

Responsibilities

• Establish, maintain, and evaluate the quality of health professions training programs and the quality of care delivered by trainees.
• Provide direction and oversight of the Health Professions Education service and educational support for paid and without-compensation trainees and related stakeholders.
• Manage and administer health professions education programs spanning undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels and multiple disciplines.
• Collaborate with the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations on academic affiliation and trainee education policies, guidelines, programs, oversight, funding, and expansion.
• Provide leadership, advice, and subject-matter expertise on projects and assignments related to health professions education programs.
• Develop, analyze, make decisions on, and implement policies affecting the VA health care system under VHA Directives (OAA 1400 series).
• Maintain active leadership and membership in professional organizations to support professional growth and knowledge.
• Present at national, VISN, facility, and professional meetings as appropriate.
• Prepare publications with VHA partners on health professions training, practices, and outcomes.
• 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 and a safety-focused, systems-based approach to evidence-based care and prevention.

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 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