Summary
The Registered Nurse (RN) - Patient Safety (PS) has day to day responsibilities that focus on assessing patient safety and/or quality vulnerabilities. The RN in this role ensures that the appropriate follow up and controls are put in place to support positive patient outcomes. This RN specializes in patient safety, implementation of quality strategies, and management of failure modes.
Duties
THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION! The Registered Nurse (RN) - Patient Safety (PS) is responsible for coordinating their assigned portions of the Patient Safety Program at the Tomah, WI VA Medical Center (VAMC). The RN in this role supports implementation of VHA Directive 1050.01, VHA Quality and Patient Safety Program, and ensures other safety guidelines are implemented in a safe and effective manner. This assignment also includes collecting data and monitoring action plans for effectiveness and sustainability of improvements. The RN - PS is also responsible for the following duties: Demonstrating leadership, experience, and creative approaches to improve and ensure safe, cost effective, and medically appropriate safety interventions for various patients throughout the continuum of care in all settings. Regularly collaborating with other stakeholders in the quality, safety, and value framework (i.e.; peers within Patient Safety, Quality Management, Infection Control, Safety, Industrial Hygiene). Providing relief coverage for the Patient Safety Manager (PSM), as needed. Leading and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including safety and continuous improvement. Using advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes. Systematically evaluating current practice, and formulating outcomes for groups of residents and/or organizational processes within an area of expertise. Functioning as a medical center consultant for patient safety policies and activities developed by the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS). Helping to build and to implement the Patient Safety Program and promote the culture of safety within the medical center and for all patients in all settings. Assisting with the coordination of Patient Safety activities within the facility, with the Director of Quality Management, the PSM, and other appropriate staff. Supporting the robust implementation of the Patient Safety and RCA process to clinicians, management, and all relevant support personnel within the facility and associated facilities and operations (e.g., Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC)). Maintaining clear communication between the facility and NCPS both to communicate relevant Patient Safety information and lessons learned from the facility. Assessing the appropriateness of care as it pertains to the Patient Safety Program and the Quality, Safety, Value enterprise framework. Serving as a representative on medical center and service committees, and playing a support role in developing and coordinating internal review systems to assure that both clinical and administrative Patient Safety activities in compliance with agency accrediting, and regulatory requirements. Providing staff support to ensure effective coordination of the facility's Patient Safety Program, and establishes criteria for internal reviews. Monitoring and analyzing changes in mission, goals, new legislation, and technological advances to assess the impact of these changes on work methods/procedures (developing new systems which will address these changes as well). Formulating recommendations on new policies and procedures and revising existing medical center policies and procedures as necessary. 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: Up to 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 (1 FTE); 0800 - 1630 Telework: Ad-hoc, as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
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. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Note for RNs: Nursing education must be from a school of professional nursing accredited by one of the following accrediting organizations at the time the program was completed by the applicant. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), located at 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326. The ACEN accredits all levels of nursing programs, including clinical doctorate, masters/post master's certificate, baccalaureate, associate and diploma nursing education programs. (Note: The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission/NLNAC changed its name to ACEN in May 2013. ACEN's website may be utilized to verify accredited programs using automated inquiry processes; however, for verification of any nursing program's accreditation prior to 1998, an automated inquiry cannot be used and ACEN must be contacted directly via their email contact information on the ACEN website to verify.) The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), located at 655 K Street, NW, Suite 7, Washington, DC 20001. The CCNE is an accrediting arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and accredits nursing education programs at the bachelor and master's level.
How you will be evaluated
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy. Experience as an RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following five dimensions of nursing: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence/Based Practice/Research. Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.