Summary The Education and Learning Service Line has a vacancy for a Nurse Practitioner (Chief APN). Responsibilities GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: The incumbent practices in The Education Service Line as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) IV. They provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and advancing the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The APN IV executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross services and/or disciplines and influence the organization's mission and health care. The APN IV practices to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. FUNCTIONS OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: The Chief APN IV is a licensed independent practitioner with advanced education and national certification who is a senior level leader. This position has extensive knowledge of Office of Academic Affiliation Policies and Procedures and responsible for maintaining compliance and accreditation for the Health Care System Executive leadership characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross services and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. The APN IV is responsible for leadership of service and programmatic operations, both clinical and administrative. They function as an administrator, educator, and consultant in collaboration with all clinical services/programs at the facility or network level, interdisciplinary service leaders, and executive leadership. Establishes and maintains effective relationships with all levels of medical center personnel and relates effectively with customers, families, and the community. The APN IV (1) Assists Nurse leaders, APNs, and interdisciplinary clinicians in carrying out the functions and activities expected of them, (2) Contributes ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of clinical practice, (3) Leads and collaborates in policy-making activities as related to customer service and the overall functioning of administrative and clinical programs, and (4) Collaborates with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross services and/or disciplines that influence organizational mission and health care. DIMENSIONS OF NURSING PRACTICE: PRACTICE: Demonstrates expert clinical skills and the ability to analyze complex medical issues in a leadership role at the program/service level or above. Expectations: 1. Provides executive input in the strategic plan, budget, mission, operations, and policy development for local and network efforts. 2. Utilizes current trends and relevant theories in an analytical framework to design, implement, and measure integrated programs and activities to achieve clinical and administrative goals. 3. Evaluates outcomes against strategic priorities. 4. Demonstrates substantial and continuous responsibility for directing and managing an integrated service/program. 5. Serves as a consultant to medical center staff and the greater community in areas of expertise. 6. Demonstrates grade-appropriate, consistent critical thinking skills. OUTCOME FOCUS: Evaluates the care delivery system from the service level and beyond; leading and implementing projects that improve the delivery of care at the program/service level or above. Expectations 1. Identifies outcomes that can be improved and leads the performance improvement process to enhance and/or sustain clinical and administrative outcomes. 2. Identifies, develops, and/or initiates programs to ensure a safe and therapeutic environment for patients and staff. 3. Provides leadership in the development, implementation, and review/revision of policies, protocols, procedures, standards of care, competencies and privileges for complex and diverse integrated programs and evaluates operational outcomes. 4. Utilizes a variety of evaluation strategies to define the overall effectiveness and outcomes of applications, software, and hardware. 5. Identifies performance improvement opportunities and initiates/leads quality improvement teams to collect data, analyze results, and design practice changes to improve outcomes. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm (subject to change based on agency needs) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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.) In addition to the Basic Requirements provided in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G6, paragraph 2, the following are the grade requirements. Grade Requirements/Determinations: Paragraph 2c (5). DNP or Doctoral Degree Required APN IV 1 Year Preferred Experience in the following: 1.Allocating payments for accreditation and match service fees for program accredited in the name of VA 2.Establishing and implementing local procedures as directed by the Office of Academic Affiliate (OAA) national policies (e.g., monitoring resident supervision) 3. Directly recruiting Health Professional Trainees (HPTs) into VA employment or assisting VISNs and other VA medical facilities in recruiting trainees. 4. Ensuring that affiliation agreements are executed for all programs that send HPTs to VA medical facilities for educational purposes and for VA sponsored programs tat send trainees to non-VA facilities. 5. Serving as the primary point of contact for all matters pertaining to the establishment and oversight of affiliations agreements. 6. Reviewing and signing appropriate residency training program letters of agreement or other documents prepared by the affiliated institution. 7. Provides oversight to identify, evaluate, and mitigate risk of injury to (HPTs), patients, staff and visitors in collaboration with facility Occupational Health and Patient Safety. 8.Reviews and ensures that minimal qualifications and credentials are met by HPTs coming to VA for academic programs as attested to by the Trainee Qualifications Certification. 9. Interacts with affiliated institutions as appropriate on matters pertaining to HPTs assignments and curricula and on evaluation of the VA medical facility as a training site. 10. Establishes local procedures for: Educational Activity Record (EAR) keeping and disbursement including training, reconcile invoices, submitting rate scheduled and reimbursing affiliates in a timely matter. 11.Works closely with OAA to expand programs, collects and report data, and obtain guidance for unusual circumstances. 12. Reviews and signs appropriate Program Letters of Agreement prepared by the affiliated institution. 13. Manages special situations and issues pertaining to Health Professional Trainees (HPTs) and advising the AVAHCS Director and the program director of the affiliated institution (or VA-sponsored program) concerning HPT competence, conduct, and compliance with VA regulations and policy. 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. 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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patient and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or during procedures. The incumbent may occasional be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.