Summary

This Registered Nurse- Deputy Chief of Sterile Processing is located at the Manchester NH VA. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

Qualifications

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.) Preferred Experience: Master of Science Nursing (MSN) 3-5 years Sterile Processing experience 3-5 years leadership experience The ability to establish effective communication with employees - end users - and other members of the interdisciplinary team including the VISN and OSP
• Advanced knowledge in AAMI standards
• Advanced knowledge in Quality Management and Infection Control
• Proficiency in electronic instrument tracking system (preferably CensiTrac) Advanced knowledge in excel and data management
• Advanced knowledge in writing SOPs and Competencies
• Experience in building and executing teaching plans and curriculum for technicians
• 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/12862462
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position
• A pre placement examination shall be completed prior to appointment.

Duties

• The Deputy/Assistant Chief Nurse is responsible and accountable for all elements of nursing process when providing supervision in the Sterile Processing Services (SPS) program
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluate outcomes in the SPS program
• Assumes the responsibility for the coordination of sterile processing service focused on high level disinfection - sterilization - sterile storage - infection control and prevention - staff education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum care
• The SPS Assistant Chief ensures that all applicable VHA policies and guidelines are followed and that the American Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) guidelines are followed per VHA Directive 1116
• Included but are not limited to: Leads and organizes SPS program that impacts delivery of Sterile Processing programs operational aspects with an added emphasis on delivering critical and semi-critical RMD services to all areas needed
• Applies technical and clinical SPS knowledge/judgement to lead staff involvement in planning - decision-making - and evaluating outcomes within the SPS program
• Serves as a liaison between SPS and other departments
• Addresses concerns regarding instrumentation - equipment and case cart supplies with clinical and non-clinical departments to ensure proper root-cause resolution of problem
• Develops staffing plans to ensure operational and administrative needs are met
• Oversees and reports Sterile Processing Unit's performance Improvement activities through identification of opportunities and applying principles of performance improvement to effect meaningful improvement within the department and with other service areas - as appropriate
• Organizes and completes own assignments in a safe and timely manner - assisting team members as necessary
• Ensures that sterilization processes are compliant with State - Federal and applicable accreditation laws/guidelines
• Serves as an advocate for patients - through improving outcomes for the SPS program
• Leads and initiates quality management requirements through monitoring - analyzing - and evaluating care outcomes in SPS program
• Work Schedule: Full Time - Monday- Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm holidays and weekends as needed Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Notifications: This is NOT a Bargaining Unit Position This position is in the Excepted Service This position is covered by a special rate
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards