Registered Nurse (RN) - Patient Safety (PS)
What you'd do
The Registered Nurse (RN) - Patient Safety (PS) has day to day responsibilities that focus on assessing patient safety and/or quality vulnerabilities. The RN in this role ensures that the appropriate follow up and controls are put in place to support positive patient outcomes. This RN specializes in patient safety, implementation of quality strategies, and management of failure modes.
Major duties
THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION! The Registered Nurse (RN) - Patient Safety (PS) is responsible for coordinating their assigned portions of the Patient Safety Program at the Tomah, WI VA Medical Center (VAMC). The RN in this role supports implementation of VHA Directive 1050.01, VHA Quality and Patient Safety Program, and ensures other safety guidelines are implemented in a safe and effective manner. This assignment also includes collecting data and monitoring action plans for effectiveness and sustainability of improvements. The RN - PS is also responsible for the following duties: Demonstrating leadership, experience, and creative approaches to improve and ensure safe, cost effective, and medically appropriate safety interventions for various patients throughout the continuum of care in all settings. Regularly collaborating with other stakeholders in the quality, safety, and value framework (i.e.; peers within Patient Safety, Quality Management, Infection Control, Safety, Industrial Hygiene). Providing relief coverage for the Patient Safety Manager (PSM), as needed. Leading and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including safety and continuous improvement. Using advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes. Systematically evaluating current practice, and formulating outcomes for groups of residents and/or organizational processes within an area of expertise. Functioning as a medical center consultant for patient safety policies and activities developed by the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS). Helping to build and to implement the Patient Safety Program and promote the culture of safety within the medical center and for all patients in all settings. Assisting with the coordination of Patient Safety activities within the facility, with the Director of Quality Management, the PSM, and other appropriate staff. Supporting the robust implementation of the Patient Safety and RCA process to clinicians, management, and all relevant support personnel within the facility and associated facilities and operations (e.g., Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC)). Maintaining clear communication between the facility and NCPS both to communicate relevant Patient Safety information and lessons learned from the facility. Assessing the appropriateness of care as it pertains to the Patient Safety Program and the Quality, Safety, Value enterprise framework. Serving as a representative on medical center and service committees, and playing a support role in developing and coordinating internal review systems to assure that both clinical and administrative Patient Safety activities in compliance with agency accrediting, and regulatory requirements. Providing staff support to ensure effective coordination of the facility's Patient Safety Program, and establishes criteria for internal reviews. Monitoring and analyzing changes in mission, goals, new legislation, and technological advances to assess the impact of these changes on work methods/procedures (developing new systems which will address these changes as well). Formulating recommendations on new policies and procedures and revising existing medical center policies and procedures as necessary. Other duties, as assigned. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: Up to 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 (1 FTE); 0800 - 1630 Telework: Ad-hoc, as determined by the agency policy. 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.) 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/13040892. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. 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: MSN or BSN is highly preferred. 3-5 years of nursing experience preferred. Demonstrated experience with Patient Safety and accreditation. Demonstrated abilities in being flexible with workloads, prioritizing tasks, paying attention to detail, communicating effectively, using critical thinking skills, and promoting teamwork and collaboration. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties by nurses such as direct patient care, and potentially long periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. Examples may include but not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients, utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols.
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