Clinical Nurse Leader
What you'd do
The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Registered Nurse in the Community Living Center (CLC) is responsible and accountable for providing leadership in the delivery of safe, high-quality, Veteran-centered care for residents receiving skilled nursing, rehabilitation, long-term, hospice, dementia, and restorative care services. The CNL functions as an advanced clinician, care coordinator, educator, and quality improvement leader, collaborating with the interdisciplinary team promoting clinical outcomes.
Major duties
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more The CNL oversees clinical operations, supports staff development, facilitates care transitions, monitors performance measures, and ensures compliance with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), accreditation, and regulatory standards while fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous quality improvement. Duties include: Provides clinical leadership and oversight for nursing care delivered within the Community Living Center (CLC). Coordinates and evaluates comprehensive, individualized plans of care for Veterans residing in skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, palliative, memory care, and long-term care units. Leads interdisciplinary team collaboration to ensure coordinated, Veteran-centered care that promotes quality outcomes and safe transitions across the continuum of care. Utilizes evidence-based practice, clinical guidelines, and quality improvement methodologies to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes, and operational performance. Monitors clinical quality indicators, performance metrics, and compliance with VA, VHA, accreditation, infection prevention, and regulatory requirements. Identifies opportunities for process improvement and leads initiatives to reduce adverse events, prevent hospital readmissions, improve resident satisfaction, and enhance quality of care. Conducts clinical rounding, case reviews, chart audits, and documentation reviews to ensure adherence to professional standards and organizational policies. Serves as a clinical resource and mentor to registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, nursing assistants, and other healthcare staff through coaching, education, and competency development. Facilitates staff education regarding evidence-based practices, clinical protocols, patient safety initiatives, and quality improvement activities. Collaborates with physicians, rehabilitation therapists, pharmacists, social workers, dietitians, psychologists, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to address complex resident care needs. Participates in root cause analyses, performance improvement projects, and patient safety investigations to identify system improvements. Supports admission, discharge, and transfer planning while coordinating continuity of care with inpatient units, outpatient clinics, home health, and community partners. Promotes resident and family engagement by providing education, facilitating shared decision-making, and addressing concerns in a timely and professional manner. Assists nurse managers with staffing coordination, workload management, policy implementation, and operational planning as assigned. Demonstrates leadership in emergency preparedness, infection prevention, fall prevention, pressure injury prevention, medication safety, and behavioral health management. Maintains current knowledge of geriatric nursing, long-term care regulations, quality standards, and VA initiatives affecting Community Living Centers. Participates in committees, accreditation surveys, quality councils, and organizational initiatives that support continuous performance improvement. Serves as a role model for professional nursing practice, ethical decision-making, and the VA ICARE Values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Full-time; 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) Additional Education Requirement for Clinical Nurse Leader In addition to the basic requirements, a Nurse (Clinical Nurse Leader) (CNL) must possess a bachelor's level degree in nursing and a master's degree from an accredited CNL education program. NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13000567. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Preferred Experience: Board certified Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). Salary for this position ranges dependent upon applicant qualifications Grade 2: $176,969-$228,000 annually Grade 3: $194,665-$228,000 annually Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The position requires potentially, long periods of combined walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable or working effectively in stressful situation, able to shift priorities based on needs of the organization. The incumbent may be required to travel occasionally. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments. Telework is position dependent and appropriate approvals are required; telework is not guaranteed and incumbent must comply with all regulations relevant to telework agreements, policies, and processes. If a position requires driving, incumbent is required to maintain compliance with all relevant policies and processes.
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