Associate Chief Nurse Perioperative

Registered Nurse - Associate Chief Nurse (PeriOP)

The Western NY VA Healthcare system is currently recruiting for a Registered Nurse - Associate Chief Nurse to serve over the Perioperative Nursing Care Team at the historic Buffalo - NY location. The Registered Nurse - Associate Chief Nurse functions as a leader - advisor - administrator - educator - consultant - and mentor who possesses a wide range of experience and nursing leadership ability.

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.
• Graduation from an approved school of professional nursing AND 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 to qualify for Nurse IV:

• Scope: Executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care.
• Education: Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV OR Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV OR a Doctoral degree in nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and 3 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV. (*Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees).
• Dimensions: Leadership - Business Acumen - Inspiring an Industry-Leading Lifestyle - Communication and Relationship Management - Professional and Social Responsibility.

Preferred Experience:

• Master's in Nursing preferred.
• Five (5) years of demonstrated successful nursing management experience within the last 6 years preferred.
• Recent experience in Surgical/Procedural/Recovery care preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with strong interpersonal skills preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership skills overseeing multiple complex departments - with clinical decision-making and problem-solving capabilities across all supervised departments preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership - skill and knowledge for systematic reviews and accreditation processes preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop - implement and analyze performance improvement activities preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop - implement - evaluate and interpret professional nursing goals - medical center policies - procedures - standards of nursing and assist the nursing staff in the implementation of the same preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Physical Requirements: This position is administrative in nature and requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

The Registered Nurse (RN) - Associate Chief Nurse (ACN) executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross services and/or discipline lines and influence the organizational healthcare mission. Nursing teams realigned under the newly established Perioperative Nursing team at the Buffalo VA include: the Operating Room - PACU and ASU - the Endoscopy team and Interventional Radiology RNs. This ACN assesses - plans - and evaluates the processes and daily operations of these units and with Chief of Anesthesia leads planning and maintenance of block time scheduling. In collaboration with the Chiefs of Anesthesiology - Surgery - Medicine/Gastroenterology and Pulmonology and Radiology Service Chiefs - designs and implements interdisciplinary programs and policies within the service and medical center. He/she is responsible for assessing and recommending the allocation of human and materiel resources in determining staffing levels - managing overtime - and plays a significant role in the recruitment and retention of nursing staff. The incumbent will ensure competency assessment is completed on each nursing employee annually - reviews EPRP - VASQUIP - IPEC - performance measures - and other data for trends and early intervention - and formulates follow-up plans with Nurse Executive Team - Nurse Managers - the service - and the medical center. This position directs two (2) Nurse Managers - who provide direction for roughly 70 staff. The ACN of Perioperative Nursing supports the integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of patient-centered and organizational goals. He/she will champion a High Reliability Organization (HRO) mentality with a culture of safety founded on a systems approach to developing evidence-based health care solutions based on prevention - not punishment - with collective mindfulness. He/she will collaborate with interdisciplinary team members - including other program and service leaders at the facility and network - and will work closely to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of Veteran Affairs staff nationwide. The ACN relates effectively with customers - families - and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels - and assist the ADPCS with healthcare operations and the functions and activities expected of them. The incumbent will contribute ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care - policies - and objectives for the enhancement of nursing in the perioperative services and the Western New York healthcare system.

Work Schedule: Full-Time Administrative Day Monday - Friday (7:00 am - 3:30 pm or 7:30 am - 4:00 pm)

Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized

Telework: Not Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package VA Nurse Total Rewards that includes:

• 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.

Key skills/competency

• Registered Nurse
• Associate Chief Nurse
• Perioperative Nursing
• Nursing Leadership
• Healthcare Administration
• Patient Care
• Staff Management
• Performance Improvement
• Accreditation Processes
• Evidence-Based Practice