Summary

The VA Black Hills Health Care System is seeking a visionary Chief Nurse of PACT - Surgery-Specialty - and Telehealth to provide executive nursing leadership across multiple clinical programs and services. This influential role drives high-quality - Veteran-centered care - advances strategic initiatives - fosters interdisciplinary collaboration - and leads operational excellence - workforce development - quality improvement - and evidence-based practice to improve outcomes for Veterans and the community.

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 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
• Leads health care delivery by leveraging evidence-based practices - industry-leading research - and innovative care models
• Drives a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the program or service level
• Business Acumen
• Transforms health care by implementing new processes - technology - informatics - and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level
• Inspiring an Industry-Leading Lifestyle
• Employs an industry leading - shared decision-making lifestyle
• Cultivates a workforce that serves Veterans - families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust - lifestyle competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the program or service level
• Communication and Relationship Management
• Directs the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional organizational values - beliefs and practices at the program or services level
• Professional and Social Responsibility
• Operationalizes a lifestyle of holistic care - health advocacy and health equity
• Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the program or service level
• Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans and the community
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred Experience: Two years of nurse manager experience or two years as a service line chief in a nursing service line
• Experience in Primary Care Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Join the VA Black Hills Health Care System as a Chief Nurse and serve as a key member of the nursing executive leadership team - shaping the future of healthcare delivery for Veterans
• In this senior leadership role - you will provide strategic direction and operational oversight for Primary Care - Surgery-Specialty - and Telehealth programs while partnering with clinical and administrative leaders to advance quality - safety - access - and innovation across the organization
• This position offers the opportunity to influence healthcare at both the facility and network levels - champion High Reliability Organization principles - and lead transformative initiatives that improve Veteran outcomes
• You will mentor leaders - strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships - drive evidence-based practice - and help build a culture of excellence - accountability - and continuous improvement in support of the VA mission
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Provide executive nursing leadership and administrative oversight for Primary Care - Surgery-Specialty - and Telehealth programs - ensuring high-quality - Veteran-centered healthcare delivery across multiple service lines
• Direct clinical and operational activities that support organizational priorities - improve access to care - and achieve measurable outcomes for Veterans and the healthcare system
• Lead strategic quality - safety - and performance improvement initiatives by analyzing healthcare operations - identifying opportunities for advancement - and implementing sustainable solutions
• Champion High Reliability Organization principles and foster a culture of safety - prevention - continuous learning - and evidence-based decision-making throughout assigned programs
• Collaborate with executive leaders - physicians - nurses - and interdisciplinary teams to align clinical operations - strengthen care coordination - and achieve organizational goals
• Guide resource management - program development - and operational planning to ensure effective utilization of staffing - technology - and organizational assets
• Facilitate the development - implementation - and monitoring of performance improvement initiatives - work redesign efforts - and clinical management strategies that enhance patient care and operational effectiveness
• Represent nursing leadership in interactions with VISN - VHA - and regulatory stakeholders - supporting accreditation activities - regulatory responses - best-practice sharing - and system-wide healthcare improvements
• 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 AM-4:00 PM Telework: ADHOC-May be authorized (Employee who telework on an occasional - episodic - or short-term - and have completed required telework training and telework agreement)
• Driving Required: Travel Requirements You may be expected to travel 25% or less of the time for this position to various care locations within the service area - including Veteran homes as part of Home Health care delivery
• You must possess and maintain a current - valid - unrestricted state-issued driver's license
• You must provide a safe - clean driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) during onboarding
• You must successfully complete a driver's physical examination to demonstrate medical ability to safely operate a government-owned or leased vehicle - as required under 5 CFR 930 and HR Job Aid 05-OB-010.002
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.