Registered Nurse (Sterile Processing Service Chief)
Job Location:
Poplar Bluff, MO - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
The John J. Pershing Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JJP VAMC) a level 3 complexity facility is recruiting a Registered Nurse to serve as the Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS). This position reports directly to the Associate Director of Patient Care Services and is responsible for providing oversight direction and evaluation of all SPS operations across the organization.
The Registered Nurse - Sterile Processing Services (SPS) Chief is responsible for assessing planning implementing and evaluating all sterile processing operations. This role oversees high-level disinfection sterilization sterile storage infection prevention and customer satisfaction across the continuum of care. The Chief ensures compliance with all applicable Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies and American Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) guidelines.
As a key member of medical center leadership the Chief collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to support high-quality care outcomes. The position includes administrative oversight of the SPS program and participation on committees such as Infection Prevention and Control Water Safety Clinical Executive Council VISN 15 Advisory Board Clinical Product Review Committee Reusable Medical Device Committee Environment of Care Rounds and the Enterprise Equipment Request Committee.
The Chief must maintain effective working relationships with staff at all levels as well as with patients families and community partners. Strong collaboration with SPS managers supervisors key personnel and Lead Medical Supply Technicians is essential to achieving expected program functions. The role contributes to the development of standards policies and objectives that enhance sterile processing operations across the organization and supports policy development related to customer service and overall SPS program effectiveness.
Additional duties and requirements include but are not limited to:
- Obtaining a VA-recognized sterile processing certification within one year of appointment.
- Ensuring the SPS Assistant Chief and supervisory staff obtain required VA-recognized certifications within one year of appointment.
- Managing SPS as a service line through a structured Quality Management System (QMS).
- Serving as the facility subject matter expert for RMD reprocessing.
- Overseeing all aspects of RMD reprocessing within the facility.
- Collaborating with the ADPCS and Chief of Staff to ensure proper reprocessing high-level disinfection sterilization and transport procedures are in place and compliant.
- Ensuring staff responsible for point-of-use cleaning transport and storage receive required training and competency validation.
- Developing and managing education and training programs for all personnel involved in RMD reprocessing.
- Ensuring manufacturer instructions for use (MIFU) are available for all RMDs including consigned and loaned devices.
- Evaluating SPS staffing levels annually and reporting findings to the Medical Center Director.
- Providing input to Healthcare Engineering to ensure construction and renovation plans meet VHA design guidelines.
- Collaborating with RMD users and Healthcare Engineering to develop systematic equipment retirement plans.
- Overseeing the RMD management program including maintenance repair replacement and contract oversight.
- Collecting analyzing and reporting SPS quality and process improvement data and collaborating with VISN and facility leadership to mitigate risks.
- Developing corrective action plans for reprocessing non-conformities identified by oversight bodies submitting plans for VISN approval and ensuring implementation.
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
- 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.
- 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.)
Grade Determinations: The following Scope Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates and if appropriate the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice Veteran/Patient Driven Care Leadership Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: I Level I
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: This position requires physical activities commonly associated with nursing duties including direct patient care and extended periods of walking standing sitting moderate lifting and repeated bending or kneeling. Examples include supporting patients while standing for prolonged periods and adhering to safe patient handling and mobility protocols.
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:
Chief
