Career Center

This position is located at VA Illiana HealthCare System and is organizationally aligned to and supervised by the Chief of Quality and Systems Improvement. This position is established within each Medical Center with the intent of developing an infrastructure for cultural change as the Veterans Health Administration advances along the journey to full implementation of High Reliability. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Preferred Experience: BSN 3 years experience of HRO Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Walking, bending, stooping, and some lifting in the direct care of patients. There may also be extended periods of sitting. ["The position is responsible for supporting executive leadership in coordinating, planning, implementing, and monitoring activities to ensure effective leadership engagement in high reliability efforts, facilitate a robust patient safety program, drive a culture of safety within the organization, and institute and sustain continuous process improvement efforts. Incumbent serves as an advisor to Medical Center management in clinically-oriented administrative matters and policy decisions. The HRO will support a complex organizational transformation in the journey to zero harm, along with critical sustainment activities. Is responsible for working collaboratively with local and national clinical and non-clinical team leaders and High Reliability Organization (HRO) champions to develop and implement strategies for improved patient safety and patient care across the Medical Center, VISN, and VHA including but not limited to: monitoring progress, success, barriers and needs for improvement; identifying focused improvement efforts across the Medical Center, VISN, and VHA; supporting the development of a robust learning organization through sharing and spreading HRO best practices; ensuring regular meetings of the VHA, VISN, and facility workgroups; implementing key elements of HRO strategic plan across the agency; and providing regular guidance and oversight to facility-based HRO workgroups. Is responsible for partnering with the National Center for Patient Safety to ensure programmatic requirements, appropriate training and program evaluations occur. Is responsible for partnering with the Office of Systems Redesign and Improvement to ensure Continuous Process Improvement principles and practices are fully integrated with VHA, VISN, and Medical Center implementation of HRO. Conducts studies and special projects to implement health care delivery programs and improve the efficiency and reliability throughout the Medical Center Provides a variety of professional-level health care administrative support functions for the Medical Center leadership in matters such as personnel, fiscal, research, supply and administration Performs administrative, evaluative or technical work concerned with establishing and maintaining employer-employee relationships that contribute to satisfactory productivity, motivation, and morale Conducts analyses of all aspects of current or projected health care programs throughout the Medical Center for effectiveness in achieving planned goals and objectives Communicates information to management for effective evaluation of program operations and milestones Analyzes, extracts, summarizes, and identifies significant trends and issues Works with the VA staff to analyze statistical data to develop and implement better health care programs, streamline and improve the efficiency of operations, to increase services to our veteran patients and their families Prepares internal instructions, operating policies, procedures, guidelines concerning assigned programs and recommends required changes Conducts management surveys, audits, special projects, etc. and provides advisory services to operating or management officials. Conducts analyses of all aspects of current or projected health care programs throughout the Medical Center for effectiveness in achieving planned goals and objectives and meeting the needs of Veterans and general public Reviews estimates submitted by Service Line Managers for compliance with rules, regulations and procedures. Breaks down silos between services to ensure development of strong patient care processes Works with QM, PSM, SR to identify vulnerabilities and develop processes and programs that advance Patient Care across the continuum Works with Clinical Teams to develop and implement strategies for improved patient safety and patient care Assists the Medical Center in implementing priority sections of the HRO Toolkit Serves as a resource and advocate for the protection of patients and family rights Protects personal patient information from unauthorized release, loss, alteration or unauthorized use Respects the value and beliefs of others during the course of a patient safety related event Displays conduct in a professional manner which reflect favorably on the Patient Safety Program Performs other related duties as assigned Work Schedule: Mon - Fri. 7:30am - 4:00pm\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required Paid Time Off: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory"]