The Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Montgomery is seeking a Registered Nurse to serve as a Patient Safety Manager. The incumbent will be considered a leader in the mission to promote quality and patient safety across the organization.
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/12778687. 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/. Preferred Experience: At least one year of Patient Safety or Quality Management experience is preferred. Certification in patient safety or quality improvement (e.g., CPHQ, CPPS) is desirable. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Excellent communication, training, and leadership abilities. Physical Requirements: Position is subject to a pre-employment physical and medical examination. This position requires: lifting, carrying; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; walking (8 hours); standing (8 hours); repeated bending; working alone; protracted or irregular hours of work and occasional emotional strain.
General Description of Assigned Duties: Summary: The Patient Safety Manager (PSM) is responsible for managing and leading the patient safety program within the organization. The PSM develops, implements, and oversees strategies to improve patient safety and reduce the incidence of medical errors and adverse events. The role involves working collaboratively with healthcare staff at all levels to promote a culture of safety. Key Responsibilities: Patient Safety Program Development: Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive patient safety program. Establish policies and procedures aimed at minimizing patient risk and ensuring a safe care environment. Incident Reporting and Analysis: Oversee the Joint Patient Safety Reporting (JPSR) system for capturing and analyzing patient safety events. Conduct root cause analyses and other investigative techniques to understand the contributory factors of adverse events. Education and Training: Develop and deliver training programs related to patient safety for clinical and non-clinical staff. Promote awareness and understanding of safety protocols and best practices. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with relevant healthcare regulations and standards related to patient safety. Prepare for and manage external audits and inspections by regulatory bodies. Quality Improvement: Collaborate with quality improvement teams to develop and implement quality assurance initiatives. Monitor and review patient safety metrics and performance indicators, and recommend improvements. Communication and Collaboration: Act as a liaison between various departments to foster a collaborative approach to patient safety. Communicate effectively with healthcare providers, administrators, and external agencies regarding patient safety issues and initiatives. Risk Management: Identify potential risks to patient safety and develop strategies to mitigate those risks. Implement safety improvement plans based on data-driven analysis and feedback. Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: Collaborates in the development, implementation, evaluation, and revision of policies, procedures, and/or guidelines. The RN practice includes the roles of direct care provider, educator, administrator, researcher, consultant, leader, and advocate. Provides peers with formal or informal constructive feedback for improvement. Supports colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals. Evaluates outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals, groups, and populations. Responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level. Executes leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. Demonstrates expertise in decision-making and using the nursing process for complex situations that effect performance outcomes at the point of care. Practice is enhanced through development of collegial relationships. Demonstrates leadership and collaboration by using the group process to solve problems. The focus is on leadership in strategically planning long-term goals for the microsystem (unit, team, or workgroup) that impacts operations or resources. Demonstrates critical thinking with efficiency and accuracy in assessing and managing situations. Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility. An addendum is available for specific position duties. 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: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday (Work Schedule subject to change based on agency needs). Compressed/Flexible: NA Telework: NA Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: NA Financial Disclosure Report: Not required