Summary

VA Palo Alto Health Care System serves a diverse population - offering a range of medical - surgical - neurological - psychiatric - and home-based primary care services. The Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) at Palo Alto VA is a high-responsibility position reporting to the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS).

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 master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's 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.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse IV: 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: Master's 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 Master's 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
• Preferred Experience: Three or more years of documented experience as a supervisor - or higher-level progressive responsibility in highly complex environment
• Demonstrate knowledge - skills - and abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to implement and incorporate regulations - policies - and procedures to manage SPS operations
• Ability to evaluate new products and equipment - develop options - and make recommendations
• Ability to integrate SPS managerial duties - which includes strategic planning of facility organizational goals and integration of SPS vision and values within the organizational mission
• Ability to perform a full range of supervisory duties - including assigning - planning and evaluating work - recommending awards - approving leave - identifying training needs - and resolving staff issues
• Skill to initiate and lead interdisciplinary groups in order to facilitate daily SPS functions
• Ability to analyze and interpret fiscal data in order to forecast resource and equipment needs
• The Chief has the overall responsibility for the supervision - administrative management and direction of SPS
• Ensures SPS functions are in compliance with all regulatory mandates
• Forecasts - plans - develops and manages the SPS program
• Manages SPS personnel and serves as liaison between SPS and other departments
• Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships - coordinates and resolves problems - and ensures cooperation with other programs and services
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives and housing may be authorized for highly qualified candidates
• General Description of Assigned Duties: Responsible for population groups or integrated programs that span service and discipline lines within the healthcare organization
• This includes collaborating with the Associate Director for Patient Care Service/Nursing Services and other departments to ensure effective administration - education - and consultation
• Collaborate with the Associate Director for Patient Care Service/Nursing Services and other departments to ensure effective administration - education - and consultation
• Supports nurse managers and advanced practitioners - shaping standards of care and policies - participating in policy-making activities - and collaborating with healthcare staff to enhance nursing organization-wide
• The Nurse IV Chief of SPS plays a leadership role in ongoing systematic evaluation and improvement of quality and effectiveness of SPS program outcomes
• Manages various administrative functions of the SPS program and are members of multiple committees
• These committees include Infection Prevention/Control - Water Safety - Clinical Executive Council - Veterans Integrated Services Network Advisory Board - Clinical Product Review - Reusable Medical Device - Environment of Care Rounds - and Enterprise Equipment Request
• Performs as an administrator - educator - and consultant - collaborating with Patient Care Service and other departments
• Maintains relationships with medical center personnel - customers - and community members
• Key relationships with staff are also crucial for carrying out functions - establishing standards of care - enhancing nursing under SPS - making policy decisions - and maintaining collaborative programs across disciplines
• Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: Plays a leadership role in ongoing systematic evaluation and improvement of quality and effectiveness of SPS program outcomes
• Provides health system-wide leadership for critical and semi-critical Reusable Medical Device (RDM) - including sterile storage - reprocessing - standard operating procedures (SOP} - competency assessment - selection - operation - and maintenance of reprocessing equipment - staff education program for RMDs - and quality management of SPS
• Responsible for assessing - monitoring - developing - and implementing corrective action plans for instrument processing - decontamination - sterilization - storage - biological monitoring - and high-level disinfection monitoring through an SPS Quality Management System
• Assesses the environment - analyzes trends - transmits data - communicates ideas - develops - and implements policies - initiates programs and systems - and collaborates in the management of resources Knowledges in areas of patient care practices - microbiology - asepsis - disinfection/sterilization process - adult education - infectious diseases - communication - program administration and epidemiology
• Demonstrates leadership in developing and maintaining productive working relationships with groups in other medical programs and services across the spectrum of care - including - but not limited to - Operative Care - Gastroenterology - ophthalmic surgical procedures - dental surgical procedures - Supply Chain Management (SCM) - Ear - Nose and Throat (ENT) surgical procedures - urological surgical procedures - and medical and surgical patient care areas
• Administrative support programs and services across the healthcare system - such as engineering services - biomedical engineering department - environmental management services - logistics - hospital education - Quality - Safety - and Value (QSV) department - the Safety Officer - VISN 21 Offices - and Palo Alto Executive Leadership
• 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: Available
• Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized