Chief Nurse, Acute Care

Quick Facts

• Role: Chief Nurse (CN) for Acute Care Services
• Scope: Nursing leadership with substantial responsibility and accountability for integrated acute care programs/population groups

Description

The Acute Care Chief Nurse functions as an advisor, administrator, educator, consultant, and mentor with broad leadership responsibility for nursing operations. The role provides timely oversight for senior leadership on daily clinical and administrative nursing activities and supports implementation of VAHCS mission, vision, policies, goals, and objectives. The Chief Nurse leads care delivery using evidence-based practices, research, and innovative care models to drive measurable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Integrate and collaborate nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas to achieve patient-centered and organizational goals
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, including other program and service leaders at the facility and network
• Oversee nursing practice and quality of care
• Manage personnel, allocate resources, and support budgeting
• Ensure a healthy work environment
• Assist the ADPCS with healthcare operations and related activities
• Lead change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the program/service level
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship required (non-citizens only if qualified citizens cannot be recruited)
• English proficiency (basic written and spoken)
• Graduate of an approved professional nursing program (ACEN or CCNE) or meet VA bridge/foreign education requirements as specified
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN licensure in a U.S. state/territory/DC
• Selective Service registration (for eligible males born after 12/31/1959)
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Complete online onboarding and pre-employment requirements
• Pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination
• Seasonal influenza vaccination is required
• May be required to complete a probationary period
• Meet Nurse IV qualification criteria: Master’s in Nursing + 4 years RN experience (incl. Nurse III-equivalent specialized experience), or approved related-field/doctoral pathways as described

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular increases and potential performance awards
• 50 days of paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays)
• Traditional federal pension (with vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% VA contributions
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options
• Monday–Friday schedule (7:30am–4:00pm), subject to agency needs
• Telework not available; not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment incentives not authorized; Permanent Change of Station (PCS) authorized
• License: 1 full, unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory