Deputy Nurse Executive

The nurse IV Deputy Nurse Executive (DNE) is an advanced healthcare executive who executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups and integrated programs that cross services and/or discipline lines and influence the organizational healthcare mission. The functions or scope of assigned duties includes:

• The DNE functions as an advisor administrator educator consultant and mentor who possesses a wide range of experience and leadership ability.
• The DNE provides senior leadership and oversight for VACO clinical and administrative operations as directed by the National Nurse Executive.
• The DNE supports the integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of Veteran-driven and organizational goals. The incumbent champions a High Reliability Organization (HRO) with a focus of safety founded on a systems approach to developing evidence-based healthcare solutions based on prevention not punishment with collective mindfulness.
• The DNE collaborates with interdisciplinary team members including other program and service leaders at the VACO and network levels. They work closely to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of Veterans Affairs (VA) staff nationwide.
• The DNE relates effectively with VACO and program healthcare executives and the community as well as program and service leaders at the network and facility levels. The incumbent assists the National Nurse Executive with healthcare operations and functions and activities expected of them. The DNE contributes ideas and recommendations for establishment and revision of standards of care policies and objectives for the enhancement of Veteran care.
• The DNE is responsible for a program that operates 24/7. The incumbent directly supervises two Operation Nurse Managers Two Nurse Educators and two Nurse Simulation Coordinators. The DNE appropriately delegates activities and ensures competency process is in place to evaluate individual practice as well as a review process for annual performance ratings. The DNE exercises preliminary approval for the following: job descriptions policies and procedures standards of patient care treatment and services nursing practice standards staffing plans functional statements and standards to measure assess and improve patient outcomes.

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.)