Registered nurse - safe patient handling program manager

Summary

The Registered Nurse will demonstrate integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills, and technically competent practice while providing care to clients.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: Execute position responsibilities that demonstrate fundamental knowledge while developing technical competencies with no professional nursing experience. Close supervision is required to teach simple, objective concepts/attributes easily identified and provide in-depth guidance for the SPHM PM to function as an advisor, administrator, educator, consultant, and mentor. Incorporate as appropriate in planning, design, and construction of new construction and renovation projects, to protect VHA healthcare workers and Veterans from injuries due to patient handling and mobility, ensure that all Veterans have an equitable opportunity to access SPHM technology, as needed, and to meet and improve Veteran care needs. Promote a HRO with a culture of safety founded on a systems approach to developing evidence-based healthcare solutions based on commitment to zero harm by developing a strong safety culture through injury prevention supported by engaged leadership. Collaborate with stakeholders across the healthcare system continuum, including other program and service leaders at the facility and network. Work closely to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of VA staff within the healthcare system. Relate with customers, families, and the community, as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels. Contribute ideas and recommendations for establishing standards of care, policies, and objectives for enhancing the healthcare system. Consider physical, mental, and emotional capacities, without endangering their safety and health or co-workers' safety and health, are in the VA Directive 5019 and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health (EOH) Service. Execute position responsibilities that demonstrate beginning leadership skills and has participated in leadership experiences, preferred experience in leadership roles. Demonstrate creative approaches to management of SPHM aspects of complex patient care. Demonstrate performance and leadership that is broad enough to impact the standard of care and safety of staff while caring for all patients throughout the continuum of care. Promote a "Culture of Safety" across services (i.e., Nursing, Environmental Management Service, Logistics, Engineering and Biomed), clinical centers, vendors, and/or disciplines. Responsible for leading a facility wide SPHM program for all services within the organization that meets the requirements of National Directives. Oversee the provision of staff education, orientation, competencies and provide quality improvement consultation related to SPHM. Participate in mentorship to complete ergonomic assessments and consult in purchasing technology. Continuously evaluate the Safe Patient Handling (SPH) program, collect, and submit facility SPH performance measures. Participate in annual clinical training in support of/preparation of VA's 4th mission and/or other contingency needs.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package:

• 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: Full-Time, M-F, 7:00am-3:30pm
• Telework: This position is authorized for telework - situational (ad hoc) and has NOT been authorized as virtual or remote.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available

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. 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 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 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.

Preferred Experience:

Experience in Safe Patient Handling, Microsoft Office and data tracking tools, SharePoint List and building and/or editing SharePoint platforms are preferred. Skills in PowerBI, Power Automate, Power Apps, SQL, etc. and experience being a Safe Patient Handling Unit Peer Leader OR teaching Unit Peer Leaders are preferred.

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.

Physical Requirements:

The position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. It requires restraining confused patients, repositioning patients, assisting with transferring patients to Wheelchairs/stretchers/cars, and transporting them to other departments or facilities. Mechanical devices available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The RN may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. This position requires visual acuity, good hearing, distinctive speech and manual dexterity. The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level with neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect his/herself from physically abusive patients.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.