Registered Nurse- Advanced Life Support Professional Development Program Director
Minneapolis, MN - USA
Job Summary
The Advanced Life Support (ALS) Professional Development Program Director is responsible for the delivery oversight and continuous improvement of Advanced Life Support education and training for new employees medical residents/students associated military personnel and VA staff within Minneapolis Veteran Affairs Health Care System (MVAHCS).
Major duties include but are not limited to:
- Analyzes issues trends and supporting data to determine the needs of individuals and the organization.
- Collects and validates data to identify professional practice gaps; determines specific knowledge skill or practice deficits or opportunities.
- Identifies desired outcomes and develops plans to outline strategies and resources.
- Coordinates educational activities and initiatives employing AHA REdI and simulation best practices to facilitate positive evidence-based learning environments.
- Evaluates progress toward attainment of desired training program outcomes.
- Responsible for oversight and implementation of the ALS Program including all course delivery (ACLS BLS PALS etc.) implementation and maintenance of (AHA Resuscitation Quality Improvement Heartcode course training delivery) REdI compliance continuous quality improvement of emergency response patient care training delivery tracking of staff training managing training deficiencies and timely reporting of program data.
- Ensures all ALS training incorporates simulation (mannequin and scenario based activities) team-based code response and standardized AHA and REdI program administration protocols.
- Collaborates with the Simulation Program to integrate full-scale simulation in-situ mock codes and performance debriefs ensuring transfer of learning to clinical practice.
- Keeps current with AHA guidelines integrating latest best practices cognitive aids and emergency response algorithms in training and assessment.
- Leads and participates in code incident reviews and resuscitation committee to evaluate the emergency response process identifying and implementing opportunities for practice improvement using best practices and simulation data.
- Develop and oversee action plans for nursing and other clinical staff to provide ALS consultation to code team response.
- Supports resuscitation committee oversight review and updates of MVHCS Medical Emergency Response standard operating procedure (SOP).
- Compliance oversight and maintenance of weekly safety inspections/ documentation records for Automated External Defibrillators (AED).
- Responds to code events in clinical areas providing expert ALS consultation to code teams and supporting RN duties as needed.
- Mentors code team members in real time and during debriefings modeling best practice and safe resuscitation behaviors.
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 7:30am- 4:00pm
Telework: ADHOC-May be authorized (Employee who Telework on an occasional episodic or short-term and have completed required telework training and telework agreement).
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care you will operate in a model with three core elements seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veterans community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor Americas Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
- 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.
- 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.)
Preferred Experience:
- Masters Degree in Nursing (MSN)
- 5 years direct clinical experience in critical care and/or emergency care environments demonstrating proficiency in high-acuity patient care and resuscitation practices.
- Professional Development training in nursing along with healthcare leadership experience (Preferred) in settings such as inpatient outpatient and/or procedural care.
- AHA: BLS ACLS and PALS Instructor certification (Preferred). Certified Health Simulation Educator (CHSE) certification (preferred) with demonstrated expertise in simulation pedagogy.
- Experience with healthcare simulation-based education (Preferred) including curriculum development scenario facilitation debriefing and proficiency in operations of mannequins task trainers and moulage skills is highly preferred.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of examination.
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.
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.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
Director