The Quality Management (QM) Registered Nurse is responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level. Functions as an advanced clinician and executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. The QM Consultant is assigned responsibility for their assigned quality management program area activities for the Medical Center and off-site locations and is responsible to their Chief Nurse.
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/12857500. 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: This position requires Moderate lifting between 15-44 pounds, Moderate carrying between 15-44 pounds, Pulling hand over hand for one hour, Pushing for one hours, Reaching above shoulder, Walking for eight hours, Standing for eight hours, Repeated bending for two hours, Both legs required, Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Hearing (aid may be permitted).
Duties include but are not limited to: Coordination and management of quality management issues or concerns for all assigned programs and services including preparing reports for the facility Serves as QM Liaison for all assigned programs and services including serving as a consultant for internal and external regulations, standards, and requirements. This consultancy will involve managing and facilitating interdisciplinary teams, serving as team leader, or as a liaison between the team and the service chiefs or process owners Educating medical center staff on Joint Commission (JC), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veteran's Integrated Service Network (VISN) standards as relevant to assigned programs and services. Monitors and assesses specialized treatment plans and goals, and electronic medical record patient documentation for numerous clinical problems to ensure documents are compliant with VHA, JC, OIG, VISN, or local policies and negotiates with Program Leaders and Service Chiefs for any identified changes. Serves as a Joint Commission and OIG Subject Matter Expert with comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of the Joint Commission, OIG, and other regulatory standards and survey process; providing guidance, instruction, direction and leadership across multiple clinical teams for achieving quality outcomes for patients and successful accreditation surveys Provides guidance and oversight to assigned services/programs to implement corrective actions and ensure ongoing compliance with JC and other survey or site visit findings. Provides interdisciplinary staff education and teaching of JC, OIG, PACT, Access, and VHA, VISN, or facility standards across assigned services/programs utilizing a wide array of learning strategies to maximize and improve learning outcomes. Evaluates, identifies, investigates, and brings forward issues of potential concern or opportunity related to operational performance and access and develops performance. Improvement tools to meet specific operational needs of assigned services/programs. Serves as a Joint Commission and OIG subject matter expert often serving as a facilitator for Performance Improvement work groups; works collaboratively with SAIL Coordinator, EPRP Coordinator, and Systems Re-Design Coordinator to assist the facility in performance improvement initiatives Serve as an active participant for numerous Medical Center Committees, or Collaborative Workgroups most relevant to assigned services/programs or clinical expertise. The QA Nurse will report QA findings to the Supervisor on a regular, recurrent basis and may contact VISN leaders directly as the situation warrants to ensure regulatory compliance, promote infection prevention, and reduce the risk of adverse events. 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: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm, Subject to change based on the needs of facility. Telework: Unavailable. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.