Registered Nurse Chief of Education

The Nurse IV Chief of Education functions as an advisor administrator educator consultant and mentor who possesses a wide range of experience and leadership ability.

The Chief of Education provides senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative operations within the Education Department as directed by the Associate Chief of Staff - Education/Chief of Staff. Provides direct supervision over the following areas to include but not limited to Nursing Education Academic Affiliations Coach Mentor program Talent Management System (TMS) My healthyVet and the Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) Program. Additionally is responsible for New Employee Orientation Nursing Orientation New Supervisor Training programs and the facility LEAD program.. Demonstrates creative approaches in the provision of education and training for patients and staff within the main facility and Community Based Outreach Clinics (CBOCs). Responsible for generating and disseminating new knowledge relevant to clinical practice nursing administration and nursing education.

The Chief of Education is directly responsible for education needs assessments; provision design and evaluation of staff and patient education activities; provision of Library Services by the Learning Resource Center (LRC); and acts as the education liaison to all medical center services and the VISN Education Council. The Chief of Education has fiscal oversight of education program funding scholarship program management and LRC budget. Responsible for budget planning forecasting management coaching and supervision of nursing and administrative support staff program development performance improvement leadership labor management activities and participation in the interdisciplinary team.

The Chief of Education may serve as the Designated Learning Officer (DLO) for the medical center. The DLO oversees assesses and strengthens Veterans Affairs (VA) training and education mission. The DLO ensures compliance with all federal state and VHA laws and regulations and all accrediting body standards. They are also responsible for the Veterans Affairs Student Trainee Experience Program (VA STEP) and nursing trainees. They will consult with VHAs Employee Education System (EES) as needed to ensure compliance with staff education functions such as mandatory training Talent Management System (TMS) availability of learning resources and all Veteran Affairs Central Office (VACO) reporting related to nursing
education. Provides administrative support for the VA National Nursing Education Initiative (NNEI) scholarship program.

The Chief of Education supports the integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of patient-centered and organizational goals. They champion a High Reliability Organization (HRO) with a culture of safety founded on a systems approach to developing evidence-based health care solutions based on prevention not punishment with collective mindfulness.

The Chief of Education collaborates with interdisciplinary team members including other program and service leaders at the facility and VISN. They work closely to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of VA staff nationwide. Provides leadership and assumes continuing and substantial responsibility for the coordination and evaluation of a program of research and evidence-based practice to influence the organizational mission and improve patient care outcomes. Other responsibilities include oversight of nursing training programs at all levels for excellence in patient care and implementation of evidence-based nursing practice at the micro-level where professional nursing practice is delivered.

The Chief of Education relates effectively with customers families and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels. They assist the ADPCS with healthcare operations and the functions and activities expected of them.

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: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 drivers 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 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 masters level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelors 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.)

• Scope: Executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care.
• Education: Masters degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of professional nursing experience one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR Masters degree in a *related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and 3 years of professional nursing experience one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.
• Dimensions:
  • Leadership. Leads health care delivery by leveraging evidence-based practices industry-leading research and innovative care models. Drives a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the program or service level.
  • Business Acumen. Transforms health care by implementing new processes technology informatics and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level.
  • Inspiring an Industry-Leading Lifestyle. Employs an industry leading shared decision-making lifestyle. Cultivates a workforce that serves Veterans families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust lifestyle competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the program or service level.
  • Communication and Relationship Management. Directs the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional organizational values beliefs and practices at the program or services level.
  • Professional and Social Responsibility. Operationalizes a lifestyle of holistic care health advocacy and health equity. Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the program or service level. Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans and the community.