Registered Nurse - Quality Assurance Nurse Specialist

01Basic 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.

02Grade 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/13103128.

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.

03Preferred Experience

Experience extracting and preparing medical record data Experience performing medical record/chart reviews to verify accurate data collection, reporting of adverse events, and protocol deviations. Experience assisting with the development and review of informed consent documents, including identifying and addressing ethical considerations in a research context. Experience assisting developing source documents, training materials, or case report forms (CRFs) for use at clinical research sites.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

04Physical 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, pushing and reaching over head. Transferring patients and objects may be required.

Registered Nurse Quality Assurance Nurse Specialist provides nursing and clinical expertise to the research process in the planning and conducting of multi-center, controlled clinical trials for the Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center (CSPCC). Demonstrates specialized experience and leadership that is characterized by responsibility and accountability for an integrated program that crosses services and/or discipline lines and influences the organizational mission.

Influences process improvement initiatives by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team. Assists in evaluating data integrity and ensuring trials are compliant with regulations and policies. Reviews medical records and collects data values in accordance with the scope of the project. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of research processes.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited, to the following: Assists in monitoring site compliance with research protocols by reviewing regulatory requirements to confirm implementation of appropriate methods, practices, and procedures for research activities. Educates study teams as it relates to patient care during the participation in a research study and providing guidance on good clinical practice guidelines as it relates to administering investigational drugs or treatments.

Provides feedback to study team and investigators on issues affecting the quality of the research endeavor, assists less-experienced staff in learning the specifics of studies or protocols. Assists in the development of informed consents. Anticipates and identifies ethical conflicts and plans with the multidisciplinary research team to address them. Supports the regulatory staff in the maintenance of regulatory documents in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and applicable regulations.

• Develops source materials for use at clinical sites and assists with training of site personnel on protocol and study procedures.
• Assists in case report form (CRF) development and ensures CRFs capture necessary clinical data points as outlined in the protocol.
• Reviews informed consents for completion and compliance.
• Develops and drives quality improvement for study recruitment protocols and evaluates the success of recruitment efforts for diversity and inclusion where possible.

Provides support in developing integrated monitoring plans and monitoring study metrics. Reviews medical charts to confirm accurate reporting of safety events and protocol deviations. Performs retrospective medical chart reviews and collects data points on CRFs as detailed in study protocols. Extracts relevant medical records for clinical outcome adjudication committees and assists adjudication committee members in resolving discrepancies as needed.

Develops methods to collect participant satisfaction and make recommendations as needed for improvement based on data collected.

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 thru Friday; 8am to 4:30pm Telework: Available - Ad-hoc pending supervisory approval and facility instruction Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized