Registered Nurse - Nurse Manager

The Nurse Manager is a clinical expert responsible for providing leadership, management, and first-line supervisory oversight of nursing operations within assigned clinical units. The incumbent ensures the delivery of safe, timely, efficient, evidence-based, and Veteran-centered nursing care while maintaining compliance with professional nursing standards, VA policies, and regulatory requirements.

Major Duties of the Nurse Manager include, but are not limited to: Provides first-line supervisory leadership and oversight of nursing personnel and daily clinical operations within assigned nursing units. Plans, organizes, directs, implements, and evaluates nursing care delivery to ensure safe, timely, effective, and Veteran-centered patient care. Supervises assigned nursing personnel, including staff orientation, training, professional development, competency assessment, and performance evaluation.

Provides leadership, guidance, coaching, mentoring, and professional support to nursing staff while promoting accountability and high-quality clinical practice. Coordinates patient care throughout the healthcare continuum, including patient education, self-management, care coordination, and patient satisfaction. Demonstrates expert clinical judgment and nursing knowledge in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care for Veterans with complex healthcare needs.

Collaborates with physicians, nursing leadership, and interdisciplinary healthcare professionals to improve care coordination, address barriers to care, and enhance patient outcomes. Leads and organizes nursing care delivery to promote continuity of care, effective communication, and accountability for professional nursing practice. Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based nursing practices, clinical programs, and process improvement initiatives.

Applies advanced clinical knowledge and judgment to involve staff in planning, decision-making, and evaluating patient-care outcomes. Supports the development and implementation of care delivery models and environmental improvements that promote accessible, equitable, and high-quality healthcare services. Ensures compliance with applicable VA policies, professional nursing standards, accreditation requirements, regulatory directives, and standard operating procedures.

Participates in strategic planning and aligns nursing operations and clinical objectives with organizational goals and performance expectations. Promotes a professional work environment that encourages teamwork, employee engagement, accountability, and effective communication. Provides constructive feedback, shares clinical knowledge, and supports the professional development of nursing staff and interdisciplinary team members.

Serves as a clinical resource and professional role model while fostering a safe and supportive environment conducive to staff learning and development. Demonstrates leadership in patient advocacy by promoting Veterans' rights, dignity, safety, and individualized healthcare needs. Identifies, analyzes, and addresses ethical issues affecting Veterans, families, caregivers, and healthcare staff.

Leads initiatives to improve Veteran experience, patient satisfaction, care coordination, timeliness of services, and patient safety. Promotes high reliability principles and VA I CARE values to improve consistency of care and clinical outcomes. Participates in healthcare facility and service-level committees, councils, and interdisciplinary initiatives to improve nursing practice and patient outcomes.

Leads and supports educational initiatives, mentoring opportunities, and professional development activities designed to advance nursing practice. Integrates evidence-based research, clinical expertise, and patient preferences into nursing care delivery and clinical decision-making. Monitors and evaluates clinical outcomes, performance improvement data, and resource utilization to identify opportunities for improving efficiency, quality, and patient care.

Promotes efficient and cost-effective utilization of healthcare resources while maintaining high standards of nursing practice. Provides cross-coverage for other Nurse Managers as assigned and supports continuity of nursing leadership and operations. Performs other duties as assigned 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: To be determined based on the needs of the service. Work schedules and assignments may be adjusted based on operational requirements. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not 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. 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/13095174. 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.

Preferred

Experience

ICU Critical Care Experience Leadership/Management Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical

Requirements

The position involves physical activities normally associated with direct patient care, including prolonged walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, and kneeling. Safe patient handling and mobility protocols must be followed.

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…