Registered Nurse - Accreditation 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/13101338.

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.

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

03Preferred Experience

MSN with Quality Experience and or Accreditation experience in the previous 5 years Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care, and potentially long periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. Examples may include but are not limited to: - Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients - Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

Functions as a clinical expert and executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates delivery of care based on age specific components. Demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients. Demonstrates sound decision-making and judgment and possess excellent interpersonal skills.

Self-directed and influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and leading innovative process improvement initiatives. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care.

This incumbent is responsible for the management of accreditation activities for the medical center and CBOCs which encompasses planning, organizing, directing, and overseeing accreditation and other external surveys and site visits such as: Joint Commission, CAP, OIG, OMI, etc. The Accreditation Specialist assures communications from external review bodies are disseminated to management officials on a timely basis.

Duties include but not limited to: The Quality Management (QM) Consultant Registered Nurse (RN) demonstrates leadership, experience, and creative approaches to improvement in quality-of-care outcomes. The QM Consultant demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients. The QM Consultant is responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level.

Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility. Program is defined as a substantial coordinated group of activities impacting patients and/or employees. The QM Consultant is assigned responsibility for their assigned quality management program area activities for the Medical Center and all off-site locations.

The QM Consultant collects data, monitors staff compliance with relevant policies, directives, and standards, provides reports detailing trends, and provides direct staff support to all services in planning, designing, integrating, implementing, modifying, and administering, a comprehensive quality management program area. They participate in several facility councils, committees, and workgroups.

Executes the position responsibilities that demonstrate effective leadership, detailed planning, professional communication, creative and innovative approaches to the improvement of safety/healthcare program development and possess an ability to organize priorities. The QM Consultant works in concert with leaders and others to sustain safety, modeling High Reliability Organization (HRO) practices.

The QM Consultant performs duties directly contributing to high quality and safe patient care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Duties require the ability to apply specialized principles and practices to ensure a systems approach to healthcare delivery. T he QM Consultant directly supports facility leadership in areas of planning, organization, development, direction, and evaluation of the quality program within the facility.

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, Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm (Extended hours as needed.

Subject to change based on agency needs.) Telework: Ad hoc available based off supervisory discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized