Summary

The Registered Nurse Quality Management Consultant demonstrates leadership - experience - and creative approaches to improvement in quality-of-care outcomes. This position is located at the Fort Wayne - Indiana Facility and is accountable to the Chief of Quality Management.

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
• 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/13102641
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred experience: Demonstrated experience in program oversight and accreditation
• Background in Quality Management or performance improvement within a healthcare or related setting
• Proven ability to lead and engage multidisciplinary teams to achieve organizational goals
• Strong program management skills with the ability to drive initiatives independently
• Ability to collaborate effectively with staff at all levels of the organization
• Commitment to fostering and sustaining a culture of High Reliability
• Highly self-motivated with a track record of proactive leadership
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• The position requires potentially long periods of combined walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable or working effectively in stressful situation - able to shift priorities based on needs of the organization
• The incumbent who provides off-site training may be required to travel occasionally.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse Quality Management (QM) demonstrates leadership - experience - and creative approaches to improvement in quality-of-care outcomes
• The QM Consultant demonstrates performance that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients
• The QM Consultant is responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level
• Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility
• Program is defined as a substantial coordinated group of activities impacting patients and/or employees
• The QM Consultant is assigned responsibility for their assigned quality management program area activities for the Medical Center and all off-site locations
• The QM Consultant incumbent collects data - monitors staff compliance with relevant policies - directives - and standards - provides reports detailing trends - and provides direct staff support to all services in planning - designing - integrating - implementing - modifying - and administering - a comprehensive quality management program area
• The QM Consultant participates in several facility councils - committees - and workgroups
• Performs duties directly contributing to the administrative management of a health care delivery system
• Duties require the ability to apply the specialized principles and practices of health care management in directing or supporting a health care delivery system.Duties to include: Accreditation program management in oversight - preparation - response and sustainment of survey activities
• Supporting work that improves High Reliability across the organization including medical center and offsite clinics
• Constructive collaboration with all staff in the quality oversight role
• Delivers self-directed - professional nursing practice using the nursing process(assessment - diagnosis - outcome identification - planning - implementation - and evaluation) for complex patients based on conscious and deliberate planning with occasional supervision
• Provides and directs others in Veteran/patient driven care by optimizing the patient experience - satisfaction - and/or safety for a team of patients
• Communicates and collaborates as an effective member of the interprofessional team demonstrating leadership responsibilities such as team leader/charge nurse
• Shares knowledge and learning opportunities that enhance current nursing practice and self-evaluation for self and others on the team
• Applies evidence-based practice/research - considering patient preferences - to improve quality of care and resource utilization - participating in established improvement activities
• Meets the needs of all customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions
• Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients - visitors - volunteers - and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner
• Provides the customers with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately
• Provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served - and which is appropriate to the cognitive
• emotional - and chronological maturation of the patient
• Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age specific needs and to provide care needed as described in the services' policies and procedures
• Takes into consideration age-related differences of the various Veteran populations with this institution
• The incumbent must demonstrate the knowledge of the changes associated with aging and possess the ability to provide care/support based upon age related factors
• Ensures staff receives training in these categories
• Sensitivity to the special needs of all patients in respect to age - developmental requirements - and lifestyle related factors must be consistently achieved
• 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: Full-time Monday-Friday 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized