Summary The Nurse Manager within the Nursing Mental Health service at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital (JAHVH) is one of the busiest and most complex careers in the nation with over 6,000 employees, with several outpatient clinics dispersed over a large geographic region. Additionally, the hospital and clinics support and train a large number of residents, interns, and trainees in a wide variety of medical specialties and healthcare occupations through multiple academic affiliations. Responsibilities Responsibilities: The Nurse Manager will be responsible for the overall Nursing operations of the new, 30, bed Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP). The NM functions as a supervisor and assumes accountability 24/7 for operations, identified procedures areas, and clinics. The Nurse Manager is accountable to the Mental Health Services Chief Nurse. The Nurse Manager's duties consist of but are not limited to the following: Responsible and accountable for the overall functioning of the Mental Health unit and the provision of nursing care. The responsibilities also include staffing, scheduling, resource utilization (human, supplies/equipment), patient flow, performance improvement activities, and leading communication to and from the unit. Responsible for staff and program evaluations, time, attendance and leave reviews. Possesses the knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative, mental health interdisciplinary practice setting, which will enable effective implementation of health promotion and prevention practices, management of acute and chronic illnesses, and attainment of optimal levels of functioning. Demonstrates and ensures safety in staff work practices that include adherence to Environment of Care for Mental Health, Infection Prevention, and Control standards, use and operation of equipment, and safe patient handling principles/practice. Understanding and utilization of computer skills are required. Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of Mental Health patients. The knowledge includes understanding changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development relevant to the adult and geriatric population. Serves as the leader of customer service for prospective areas, with staff participation, and the unit patient advocate and works with the facility patient advocates. Provides leadership in the application of the nursing process to client care, organizational processes, and/or systems improving outcomes at the program or service level. Provides leadership in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact clients and staff, including initiating and participating in ethics consultations. Manages program resources (financial, human material, or informational) to facilitate safe, effective, and efficient care. Implements an educational plan to meet changing programs or service needs for self and others. Maintains knowledge of current techniques, trends, and professional issues. Uses professional standards of care and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities. Uses group processes to identify, analyze, and resolve care problems. Coaches' colleagues in team building. Makes sustained contributions to health care by sharing expertise within the Medical Center or external to it. Initiates interdisciplinary projects to improve organizational performance. Collaborates with others in research activities to improve care. All other duties as assigned, pertaining to this occupation, to meet the needs of the Agency, Department, Facility, and/or Service. Provide clinical and administrative leadership, serve as a link between nursing personnel and other disciplines, and implement the vision, mission, plans, and standards of Nursing Service and the Medical Center. Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills and act as a technical, clinical, and administrative resource to nursing personnel and other allied disciplines in interpreting and applying policies and procedures. Manages the patient care environment including budgeting, supplies, equipment, and patients. Collaborates in developing, implementing, and maintaining JAHVH, mission, goals, policies, and EEO guidelines. Directing continuous improvement activities and ensuring nurse readiness for all internal and external reviews including TJC, CARF, and Office of Mental Health. Responsible for all issues that affect nursing including standards of practice, credentialing, training, function statements, position descriptions, proficiency reports, performance appraisals, policies, procedures, protocols, and competencies. Creating and advocating for a healthy work environment that is conducive to the recruitment and retention of highly competent nursing staff with diverse backgrounds. Managing staffing process using VA Staffing Methodology and electronic staffing programs. Data collection, analyzing, trending, and reporting, including nurse-sensitive indicators, and risk management. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm with workday/hours flexibility required as administrative and/or clinical demands require. 24/7 Responsibilities. Telework: Not Eligible. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Recruitment Incentive: Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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.) Preferred Experience: Master's Degree in Nursing from an ACEN/CCNE-accredited School of Nursing preferred. 3-5 years of successful professional (RN) nursing practice in Mental Health or Management and demonstrate competencies in clinical practice, leadership skills, and team building. Effective communication and organizational skills, including computer literacy. Flexible and able to adjust to ever-changing work environment Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative or invasive procedures, or home settings. 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 Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.