Chief Registered Nurse (Surgery)

Job Description/Scope of Practice
The Associate Chief Nurse (CN) for surgery nursing areas 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 influence organizational mission and health care and responsibility for outcomes. The CN is responsible for administrative functions of their assigned nursing units/programs. Functions as an administrator educator and consultant utilizing management theory in collaboration with Patient Care Service and other services. Must establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of medical center personnel and relate effectively with customers families and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels.

Key relationships with staff are needed to:

1. Assist nurse managers and advanced practitioners to carry out the functions and activities expected of them.
2. Contribute ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care policies and objectives for the enhancement of nursing organization-wide.
3. Assist in policy-making activities as related to customer service and the overall functioning of administrative and clinical programs.
4. Collaborate with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care.

1. PRACTICE (Ethics Resource Utilization)
   • ETHICS: Provides leadership in addressing ethical issues that impact patients and staff in or beyond the organization and the local health care community.
   • RESOURCE UTILIZATION: Designs modifies and implements systems compatible with professional standards and within the mission and the goals of the organization to improve the cost-effective use of resources.
2. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (Education/Career Development Performance)
   • EDUCATION/CAREER DEVELOPMENT: Develops staff for career progression. Forecasts new knowledge needs for changing practice environments/population groups. Plans implements and evaluates strategies to meet those needs.
   • PERFORMANCE: Implements standards of professional practice and accrediting bodies and applicable regulations
3. COLLABORATION (Collaboration Collegiality)
   • COLLABORATION: Demonstrates leadership in developing productive working relationships with groups in other programs services academic settings and community settings
   • COLLEGIALITY: Contributes to the professional growth and development of colleagues and other health care providers at the local state regional or national level.
4. SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY (Quality of Care Research)
   • QUALITY OF CARE: Provides leadership in improving and sustaining the quality and effectiveness of care in diverse or complex programs.
   • RESEARCH: Collaborates with staff other disciplines faculty and peers in developing conducting and evaluating research activities and programs.

• MSN or BSN with Masters in a health-related field

• Minimum of four to five years successful nursing practice
• Minimum of 2 years successful management experience in one or more areas of surgery
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with employees customers vendors and members of the interdisciplinary matrix
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and evaluate integrated programs
• Demonstrated clinical excellence in management of groups
• Demonstrated knowledge of current techniques trends and professional issues and organizational improvement
• Demonstrated ability to use computer software in support of preparing and presenting reports and analysis

• Masters Degree in Nursing or Masters in a related field and a BSN
• MSN from Bridge Program (no BSN required)
• Doctoral degree in nursing or a related field

• ANCC Nurse Executive Leadership Certification

• 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 evaluation/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.

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.