Associate Director - Patient Care Services

The ADPCS reports to the Northern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System (NAVAHCS) Director and is an integral part of the Senior Leadership team, i.e., the Quadrad that includes the Director, Associate Director, and Chief of Staff. The ADPCS is the top executive within nursing and is a key leader in strategic planning, organizational assessment, and program development. The ADPCS has the authority and responsibility for establishing standards for the practice of nursing at the health care system level and ensuring the continuous and timely availability of quality nursing services.

The ADPCS is the chief spokesperson for organized nursing services and is the catalyst for the integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of optimal Veteran centered organizational goals. The ADPCS champions a culture of safety through developing systems with a solid team-based approach. The ADPCS is responsible for contributing to and participating in the entire health care system including establishment and administration of policies, procedures, and practices in accordance with the Mission, Vision, and Values of the VHA, Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN) 5 - Health Service Area (HSA) 5.3, and NAVAHCS.

The ADPCS is responsible for the practice of nursing 24/7 by all registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants and other assigned allied health staff regardless of line authority. The ADPCS exercises final authority and approval over nursing functional statements, job descriptions, nursing care policies and procedures, nurse staffing plans, and performance/quality improvement plans related to nursing practice. The ADPCS ensures that performance review and competency assessment processes are in place to evaluate individual practice and support the development of nursing education programs at the systems level.

The ADPCS must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate nursing care and education appropriate to the age of the Veterans being served. The ADPCS is required to support the identification and development of future nursing leaders for the health care system. The ADPCS chairs the Nurse Executive Council (NEC) and Nursing Leadership Staff (NLS) through delegated authority to a Nurse IV.

The ADPCS has departmental and financial oversight, and line authority over Sterile Processing Services (SPS), Nutrition/Food Service (NFS), the Nursing Education Program, Education, Chaplain Program, Nurse Recruiter, Nursing Informatics, Connected Care/Telehealth and Social Work Services. The clinical service line Administrative Nurse Managers (Primary Care, Mental Health, Specialty & Diagnostic, Acute Care, Geriatric & Extended Care) reports directly to the ADPCS. The nursing clinical supervisors report directly to the ADPCS.

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, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. MST Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation Incentive: May be Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): PCS is Authorized.

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 V: Scope: Practice of an executive nature, comprised of complex leadership and administrative components, associated with critical health care issues and activities that drive meeting the organizational mission, health care and policy.

Education

Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 5 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and 5 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR a Doctoral 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 IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Dimension

Requirements

Leadership. Establishes the strategic direction for health care delivery, evidence-based practices, industry-leading research, and innovative care models. Creates a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the organization or enterprise level.

Business Acumen. Transforms health care through the application of new processes, technology, informatics, data analytics, business principles, systems thinking and resource management at the organization or enterprise level. Inspiring an Industry-Leading Lifestyle.

Establishes an industry leading, shared decision-making lifestyle; a workforce that serves Veterans, families, and caregivers of all backgrounds; builds trust and lifestyle competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the organization and enterprise level. Communication and Relationship Management. Drives the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional and organizational values, beliefs, and practices at the organizational or enterprise level.

Professional and Social Responsibility. Sets the standard for a lifestyle of holistic care, health advocacy and health equity. Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the organization or enterprise level.

Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans, the community, and the health care industry. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical

Requirements

Position at times requires heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), heavy carrying (45 pounds and over), straight pulling (4 hours), pushing (4 hours), use of fingers and both hands, walking and standing 8-12 hours, repeated bending 8 hours, both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in other eye, depth perception, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hear (aide permitted). Transferring patients and objects required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and will be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures.

The incumbent may 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 and departmental needs.

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/examination. 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…