Career Center

Summary

The Emergency Department Nurse Manager (NM) is a professional registered nurse accountable for the 24/7 operation of the Emergency Department. The NM provides leadership in delivering & improving holistic care through collaborative strategies and clinical and administrative judgment. The incumbent is responsible for implementing evidence-based practice - promoting a Veteran-centered care environment - & aligning operations with the mission and strategic goals of the VA San Diego Healthcare system.

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
• 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: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12959855
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred Experiences: 3 to 5 years of current experience in Emergency Room setting
• Experience implementing Emergency Department flow strategies such as split-flow models - surge protocols - or rapid triage processes
• Proven ability to manage staffing resources - including reducing reliance on premium labor - improving retention - and maintaining staffing efficiency
• Experience leading quality and patient safety initiatives and participating in accreditation readiness activities - including compliance with standards from The Joint Commission or equivalent
• Demonstrated ability to lead change initiatives - including workflow redesign - process improvement - and culture transformation in a clinical setting
• Experience developing frontline leaders and staff through coaching - mentoring - and succession planning
• Experience working within a federal healthcare system - such as U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - or similarly complex integrated delivery system
• Possession of relevant professional certifications (e.g. - Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) or Nurse Executive Board Certified (NE-BC)) and/or a graduate degree in nursing or a related field
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting and Carrying (45 lbs
• and over)
• Straight Pulling - Pushing - Walking - Standing - Kneeling - Repeated bending - Keyboarding - Viewing computer screen (8 - 12 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands and legs required
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other
• Depth perception
• Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• and Emotional/Mental stability.

Duties

• Dimension 1 - Practice - Manages clinical operations of the ED to ensure timely - safe - high-quality care
• - Overseas - appropriate nurse staffing based on acuity and census - adjusting assignments as necessary
• - Ensures nursing care is evidence-based and consistent with VA Nursing Standards of Practice
• - Monitors ED throughput metrics - staffing efficiencies - and workload capture (e.g. - PACT - DSS - NDE)
• - Addresses clinical issues and barriers to care - engaging appropriate support services as needed
• Dimension 2 - Veteran/Patient-Driven Care - Ensures individualized - Veteran-centered care that respects patients' values - preferences - and needs - Incorporates cultural - spiritual - and age-specific considerations into patient care planning - Addresses patient concerns promptly and ensures timely service recovery and follow-up
• - Leads efforts to improve the Veteran experience using feedback from SHEP - PATSR - and other satisfaction tools
• Dimension 3 - Leadership - Directly supervises ED nursing and support personnel - including performance appraisals - timekeeping - and disciplinary actions
• - Promotes a positive and professional practice environment - fostering shared decision-making and staff engagement
• - Participates in facility and service-level committees - workgroups - and emergency preparedness planning
• - Leads initiatives to improve team collaboration - workplace safety - and staff satisfaction Dimension 4 - Professional Development - Identifies individual and collective learning needs and coordinates appropriate training opportunities
• - Ensures staff completion of mandatory education - certifications - competencies - and proficiencies
• - Encourages pursuit of advanced degrees - specialty certifications - and leadership training programs (e.g. - LDI - TMS modules)
• - Serves as a mentor and preceptor to novice leaders and participates in succession planning initiatives
• Dimension 5 - Evidence-Based Practice/Research - Facilitates quality improvement initiatives using tools such as PDSA cycles - flow mapping - and RCA participation
• - Uses data to identify trends and drive improvements in clinical outcomes and department performance
• - Supports staff engagement in evidence-based practice - scholarly projects - and VA research opportunities
• - Maintains awareness of current literature and clinical guidelines - integrating best practices into policy and workflow revisions
• Performs other duties as assigned 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: Full Time
• The incumbent may be required to work irregular tours - weekends - holidays - or extended shifts to meet operational needs
• Telework: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized