Registered Nurse (RN) - Patient Safety Manager

Summary

Serves as one of the facility's Patient Safety Managers, functioning as a clinical and program expert responsible for building and sustaining the facility's patient safety program. Leads Root Cause Analysis activities, trains staff on patient safety principles, and uses data-driven approaches to promote a culture of safety. Demonstrates leadership and ingenuity in translating national patient safety policy into effective local practice. Program outcomes can be broad, extending facility-wide.

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This job is open to

The public

U. S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U. S.

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. This announcement is open to the Public. All U. S. Citizens.

Duties

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

Duties include but are not limited to the following

Leads and coordinates the facility's patient safety program, implementing policies and activities developed by VA's National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) and serving as the facility's key resource for building and sustaining a culture of safety. Directly supports the development, maintenance, and operation of the patient safety process at the facility level. Leads Root Cause Analysis (RCA) activities, working with team members, team leaders, and recorders to investigate adverse events and close calls and translate findings into corrective action.

Trains clinicians, management, and support personnel facility-wide, and at associated operations, on patient safety principles and RCA methodology. Coordinates the patient safety-related activities of personnel such as infection control professionals, risk managers, and quality managers. Utilizes patient safety culture survey data and analysis to assess organizational strengths and gaps and facilitates initiatives to promote and sustain a culture of safety.

Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, leading initiatives that drive continuous process improvement. Models High Reliability Organization (HRO) practices and leads forums to reinforce safety principles across the facility. Maintains clear, ongoing communication between the facility and VISN/NCPS, sharing lessons learned with broader applicability and incorporating national-level program changes into local practice.

Maintains confidentiality of sensitive information in all activities. Applies specialized principles and practices of patient safety science to support a systems-based approach to healthcare delivery. Directly supports facility leadership in the planning, organization, direction, and evaluation of the patient safety program.

Not all duties may be listed, so other duties may be assigned. 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 7:00AM-3:30PM Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements

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.

• 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 than 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/13075665.

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

Preferred candidates will have clinical leadership experience, with responsibility for staff oversight, mentorship, or program coordination. A master's degree is preferred. Experience applying process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) to clinical or patient safety initiatives is preferred, including facilitating Root Cause Analyses (RCA) or proactive risk assessments. Experience with High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles is highly desired.

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

Physical

Requirements

This position may involve considerable amount of standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. It requires assisting clients with transfers from wheelchairs/stretchers and transporting them to other departments or facilities. Mechanical devices are available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift clients.

The work may involve pushing or lifting up to 35 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care. The position may require the ability to physically control or defend against emotionally ill clients.

The position also requires ability to work on computers for…