Chief Nurse - Sterile Processing

Chief Nurse - Sterile Processing

Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Health Administration

Washington DC VA Medical Center

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• Summary
• This job is open to
• Duties
• Requirements
• How you will be evaluated
• Required documents
• How to apply

Summary

The Chief Nurse(RN) of Sterile Processing Services assumes responsibility for all aspects of the Sterile Processing Service to include high level disinfection, sterilization, sterile storage, infection control and prevention as well as customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.

Learn more about this agency

Summary

The Chief Nurse(RN) of Sterile Processing Services assumes responsibility for all aspects of the Sterile Processing Service to include high level disinfection, sterilization, sterile storage, infection control and prevention as well as customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

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Hiring complete

Open date: 07/17/2026 Closed date: 07/27/2026

Location

1 vacancy in the following location

Washington, DC

1 vacancy

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligibleYes—as determined by the agency policy. Remote jobNoRelocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $156,977 - $208,766 per year Pay scale & grade

VN 4

Promotion potential None

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work scheduleFull-timeTravel RequiredNot required

Appointment typePermanent

Occupations and job series

• 0610 Nurse

Supervisory statusYesFederal service typeThis job is in the Excepted Service Represented by a unionNo

Drug testYesSecurity clearanceNot RequiredPosition sensitivity and riskNon-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure requiredNo

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement numberCBTF-13007018-26-HW-ALPHAControl number877042800

This job is open to

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[The public\\ \\ U. S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U. S.](https://www.usajobs.gov/HiringPath/Public "The public")

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

This position is open to all qualified US Citizens.

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Duties

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The Chief of SPS provides health system-wide leadership for critical and semi-critical RMD, including sterile storage, reprocessing, standard operating procedures, competency assessment, selection, operation, and maintenance of reprocessing equipment, staff education program for RMDs, and quality management of SPS.

Major duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Maintains oversight and availability for consultation of non-critical RMD.
• Has knowledge in areas of patient-care practices, microbiology, asepsis, disinfection/sterilization process, adult education, infectious diseases, communication, program administration and epidemiology.
• Has responsibility and oversight of evidence-based practice infection control relating to sterile processing standards.
• Serves as the subject matter expert for all SPS activities and provides consultation when called upon.
• Collaborates with various surgical proprietary vendors that provide instrumentation that allow the agency to maintain inventory par levels that support the complex surgical cases.
• Supports the integration and collaboration of sterile processing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of patient-centered and organizational goals.
• Functions as an advisor, administrator, educator, consultant, and mentor who possesses a wide range of experience and leadership ability.
• Contributes ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of nursing.
• Assesses the environment, analyzes trends, transmits data, communicates ideas, develops, and implements policies, initiates programs and systems, and collaborates in the management of resources.

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

Full-time; specifics TBD with Supervisor.

Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U. S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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.)

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.

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…